There are almost 400 species of sharks and over 500 species of rays
and skates within the worlds oceans, and those numbers increase each year
as more species are discovered and identified.
CLASS : CHONDRICHTHYES
SUBCLASS :SELACHII
SUPERORDER :EUSELACHII
ORDER :PLEUROTREMATA
The Suborders and Families of Sharks
ORDER PLEUROTREMATA
Suborder Hexanchiformes
Family HEXANCHIDAE - Cow sharks ( Hexanchus ), Six or seven gilled sharks
( Heptranchias, Notorhynchus )
Family CHLAMYDOSELACHIDAE - Frilled sharks ( Chlamydoselachus )
Suborder Heterodontiformes
Family HETERODONTIDAE - Port Jackson Sharks( Heterodontus ) Horn sharks
or Bull-headed Sharks
Suborder Galeiformes
Family ODONTASPIDIDAE - Sand Sharks ( Odontaspis )
Family SCAPANNORHYNCHIDAE - Goblin Sharks ( Mitsukurina )
Family ISURIDAE - Mackerel Sharks ( Carcharodon, Isurus, Lamna )
Family CETORHINIDAE - Basking Sharks ( Cetorhinus )
Family ALOPIIDAE - Thresher Sharks ( Alopias )
Family ORECTOLOBIDAE - Carpet Sharks ( Orectolobus, Ginglymostoma,
Stegostoma )
Family RHINCODONTIDAE - Whale Sharks ( Rhincodon )
Family SCYLIORHINIDAE - Dogfishes, Cat sharks, Swell Sharks ( Scyliorhinus,
Galeus, Apristurus )
Family PSEUDOTRIAKIDAE - False Cat Sharks ( Pseudotriakis )
Family TRIAKIDAE - Smooth Hounds or Smooth Dogfishes ( Triakis, Mustelus,
Triaenodon)
Family CARCHARHINIDAE - Grey Sharks, Requiem Sharks ( Carcharhinus,
Negaprion, Prionace, Galeocerdo, Scoliodon, Galeorhinus, Hemipristis )
Family SPHYRNIDAE - Hammerhead Sharks ( Sphyrna )
Suborder Squaliformes
Family SQUALIDAE - Spiny Dogfishes ( Squalus, Etmopterus, Centrophorus,
Oxynotus, Centrosycmnus )
Family DALATIIDAE - Sleeper Sharks ( Somniosus, Isistius ), Spineless
Dogfishes (Euprotomicrus, Squaliolus, Dalatius )
Family ECHINORHINIDAE - Bramble Sharks ( Echinorhinus )
Family PRISTIOPHORIDAE - Saw Sharks ( Pristiophorus, Pliotrema )
Family SQUATINIDAE - Monkfishes, Angel Sharks ( Squatina )