Sharks: The Animal Answer Guide

Appendix A: Sharks, Skates, Rays, and Chimaeras of the World

Appendix A Sharks, Skates, Rays, and Chimaeras of the World The following classification is based on Nelson (2006), with some updates from various experts. Class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes) Subclass Elasmobranchii (sharklike fishes) Infraclass Euselachii (sharks and rays) Division Neoselachii Subdivision Selachii (sharks) Superorder Galeomorphi Order Heterodontiformesa (8 species, marine): Heterodontidaeb (bullhead, horn sharks) Order Orectolobiformes (32 species, marine): Parascylliidae (collared carpet sharks) Brachaeluridae (blind sharks) Orectolobidae (wobbegongs) Hemiscylliidae (bamboo sharks) Stegostomatidae (Zebra Shark)c Ginglymostomatidae (nurse sharks) Rhincodontidae (Whale Shark) Order Lamniformes (15 species, marine): Odontaspididae (sand tiger sharks) Mitsukurinidae (Goblin Shark) Pseudocarchariidae (Crocodile Shark) Megachasmidae (Megamouth Shark) Alopiidae (thresher sharks) Cetorhinidae (Basking Shark) Lamnidae (mackerel sharks) Order Carcharhiniformes (224 species, mostly marine): Scyliorhinidae (catsharks) Proscylliidae (finback catsharks) Pseudotriakidae (false catsharks) 227 a The terms used for orders of sharks end in the letters -iformes. Adjective and noun forms end in -iform and -iforms. For example, the heterodontiform bullhead sharks are also called heterodontiforms . b The names for families of sharks always end in the letters -idae. Adjective and noun forms end in -id and -ids. For example, the heterodontid bullhead sharks are also called heterodontids. c When a family contains only one species, we have capitalized the species name, using the convention of capitalizing common names of specific species. 228 Appendix A Leptochariidae (Barbeled Houndshark) Triakidae (houndsharks) Hemigaleidae (weasel sharks) Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks) Sphyrnidae (hammerhead sharks) Superorder Squalomorphi Order Hexanchiformes (5 species, marine): Chlamydoselachidae (Frill Shark) Hexanchidae (cow sharks) Order Echinorhiniformes (2 species, marine): Echinorhinidae (bramble sharks) Order Squaliformes (97 species, marine): Squalidae (dogfish sharks) Centrophoridae (gulper sharks) Etmopteridae (lantern sharks) Somniosidae (sleeper sharks) Oxynotidae (rough sharks) Dalatiidae (kitefin sharks) Order Squatiniformes (15 species, marine): Squatinidae (angel sharks) Order Pristiophoriformes (5 species, marine): Pristiophoridae (saw sharks) Subdivision Batoidea (skates and rays) Order Torpediniformes (59 species, marine): Torpedinidae (torpedo electric rays) Narcinidae (numbfishes) Order Pristiformes (7 species, marine and freshwater): Pristidae (sawfishes) Order Rajiformes (285 species, marine): Rhinidae (bowmouth guitarfishes) Rhynchobatidae (wedgefishes) Rhinobatidae (guitarfishes) Rajidae (skates) Order Myliobatiformes (183 species, marine and freshwater): Platyrhinidae (thornbacks) Zanobatidae (Striped Panray) Hexatrygonidae (Sixgill Stingray) Plesiobatidae (Deepwater Stingray) Urolophidae (round stingrays) Urotrygonidae (American round stingrays) Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays) Potamotrygonidae (river stingrays) Gymnuridae (butterfly rays) Rhinopteridae (cownose rays) Mobulidae (manta rays, mobulas) Subclass Holocephali Superorder Holocephalimorpha (6 extinct orders and modern chimaeras) 229 Sharks, Skates, Rays, and Chimaeras of the World Order Chimaeriformes (modern chimaeras) (46 species, marine): Callorhinchidae (plownose chimaeras) Rhinochimaeridae (longnose chimaeras) Chimaeridae (shortnose chimaeras or ratfishes) ...