Order Myliobatiformes
- Stingrays (183 species)
- Body greatly flattened with enlarged pectoral fin fused to head
- Gill slits on ventral surface
- Eyes & spiracle located dorsally
- Tail extremely slender and whiplike, with dorsal spine
- Lack dorsal and anal fins
- Most are bottom dwellers; some occur in fresh water
- Mostly viviparous
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Manta Ray, Manta birostris: The world's largest ray, a plankton filter feeder (Family Myliobatidae)
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Cownose Ray, Rhinoptera bonasus (Family Myliobatidae)
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Spotted Eagle Ray, Myliobatis aquila (Family Myliobatidae)
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Ocellated Sting-Ray, Potamotrygon motoro (Family Potamotrygonidae)
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Southern Sting-Ray, Dasyatis americana; Belize (Family Dasyatidae)
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Leopard Whipray, Himantura undulata, ventral surface (Family Dasyatidae)
See also labeled photo.
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Order Rajiformes
- Skates (285 species)
- Body flattened with broad pectoral fin fused to head
- Gill slits on ventral surface; eyes dorsal
- Tail slender, usually with 1 or 2 dorsal fins
- Back often with rows of enlarged thorny scales
- Benthic marine environments
- Oviparous, producing keratinous egg capsules
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Lesser Guitarfish, Rhinobatos annulatus (Family Rhinobatidae)
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Shark Ray, Rhina ancylostoma (Family Rhinidae)
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California Skate, Raja inornata (Family Rajidae)
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Order Carcharhiniformes
- Ground sharks (224 species)
- Most species-rich order of sharks
- Two dorsal fins, both lacking spines
- Anal fin present
- Mouth extends behind eyes
- Contains most of the familiar species (such as reef sharks, leopard sharks and hammerheads)
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Leopard Shark, Triakis semifasciata (Family Triakidae)
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Gray Smoothhound Shark, Mustelus californicus (Family Triakidae)
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Great Hammerhead, Sphyrna mokarran (Family Sphyrnidae)
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Black-tipped Reef Shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus (Family Carcharhinidae)
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Chain Catshark, Scyliorhinus retifer (Family Scyliorhinidae)
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Bonnethead Shark, Sphyrna tiburo (Family Sphyrnidae)
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Order Orectolobiformes
- Carpet sharks (32 species)
- Mouth is located anterior to eyes
- Nasoral grooves with barbels
- Most are slow moving bottom dwellers
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Nurse Shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum; Belize
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Ornate Wobbegong Shark, Orectolobus ornatus
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Zebra Shark, Stegostoma fasciatum
Whale Shark, Rhincodon typus; the largest extant fish is a filter feeder of plankton
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Order Squaliformes
- Dogfish sharks (97 species)
- 2 dorsal fins, each with a spine
- Lack anal fin
- Tend to be bottom-dwelling
- All are (ovo)viviparous
- See also dissection page.
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Spiny Dogfish, Squalus acanthias; preserved specimen
See also labeled photo.
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Other Shark Orders
- In addition to those shown above, 6-8 other orders of sharks are usually recognized
- You do not need to learn any of these orders
- None of these orders contain more than 20 species
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Horn Shark, Heterodontus francisci;
(Order Heterodontiformes)
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Sand Tiger Shark, Carcharias taurus;
(Order Lamniformes)
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Largetooth Sawfish, Pristis microdon;
(Order Pristiformes)
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