Shark Biology and Conservation: Phylogenetics

Order: “Ground sharks” or “sharky-looking sharks,” nictitating membranes, ex. blacktip

Carcharhiniformes

Family: “requiem sharks” ex. bull, lemon, sandbar

Carcharhinidae

Family: hammerheads

Sphyrnidae

Order: “Mackerel Sharks",” ex. white shark, basking shark, gulper sharks. No nictitating membrane, high activity

Lamniformes

Family: regionally endothermic, ex. white shark

Lamnidae

Family: regionally endothermic, extended caudal fin, ex. thresher

Alopiidae

Order: “carpet sharks,” terminal mouth, usually benthic, 2 dorsal fins, ex. nurse shark, whale shark

Orectolobiformes

Order: “Bullhead Sharks,” chunky head, differentiated teeth, dorsal fin spine, neritic and benthic, ex. Port Jackson Shark

Heterodontiformes

Superorder: has anal fin, includes requiem sharks, mackerel sharks, carpet sharks, and bullhead sharks

Galeomorphii

Superorder: almost all members missing anal fin, includes dogfish, angel sharks, sawsharks, and frilled sharks

Squalomorphii

Order: diverse and widespread, usually pelagic and deeper, ex. dogfish, greenland shark, cookiecutter

Squaliformes

Order: flattened, 2 dorsal fins,ex. angel shark

Squatiniformes

Order: sawsharks

Pristiophoriformes

Order: “prickly sharks,” benthic-associated, dorsal fins far back, ex. bramble shark

Echinorhiniformes

Order: most basal of its clade, includes anal fin, 6-7 gills

Hexanchiformes

Order: “torpedo rays,” electric organ

Torpediniformes

Order: “Rhino rays", sawfish, guitarfish

Rhinopristiformes

Order: Skates, muscular thorny tails, walking feet, ex. little skate

Rajiformes

Order: stingrays, ex. manta ray

Myliobatiformes