Table 1.1: Extant Orders of Chondrichthyes
ORDER EXAMPLE SPECIES PHYLOGENETIC FEATURES
Squaliformes
dogfish shark
82
 - 2 dorsal fins, no anal fin
- short snouts, ventral mouth
Pristiophoriformes
saw sharks
5
 - elongated snout, ventral mouth
- 2 dorsal fins, no anal fin
Squatiniformes
angel sharks
13
 - flattened bodies
- terminal mouth
- no anal fin
Hexanchiformes
frilled sharks
4
 - 6 or 7 gills
- anal fin
- single spineless dorsal fin
Carcharhiniformes
ground sharks
197
 - nictitating eyelids
- no fin spines, anal fin
- spiral intestinal valve
- mouth ends behind eyes
- 5 gill slits, 2 dorsal fins
Laminiformes
white sharks
16
 - no fin spines, anal fin
- no nictitating eyelids
- ring intestinal valve
- mouth ends behind eyes 
- 5 gill slits, 2 dorsal fins
Orectolobiformes
carpet sharks
33
 - mouth in front of eyes
- no fin spines, anal fin
- 5 gill slits, 2 dorsal fins
Heterodontiformes
bullhead sharks
8
 - anal fin
- 5 gill slits
- 2 dorsal fins with spines
Rajiformes
manta ray
470
 - winglike pectoral fins
- very flattened bodies
Chimaeriformes
ratfish
30+
 - soft operculum
- upper jaw fused with braincase
- simple tooth plates
Table compiled mostly from the
book 'Sharks' by Compagno
and 'Shark' by Stafford-Deitsch

 

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