#subclass_Elasmobranchii__Elasmobranchii__Selachii__subclass_Selachii sharks; rays; dogfishes; skates
supertype: class__clas (biology) a taxonomic group containing one or more orders
member of: class_Chondrichthyes
member: elasmobranch__selachian any of numerous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton and placoid scales: sharks; rays; skates
member: family_Hexanchidae__Hexanchidae primitive sharks
member: genus_Hexanchus__Hexanchus a genus of Hexanchidae
member: cow_shark__cowshark__six-gilled_shark__Hexanchus_griseus large primitive shark widely distributed in warm seas
member: family_Lamnidae__Lamnidae oceanic sharks
member: mackerel_shark fierce pelagic and oceanic sharks
member: genus_Lamna__Lamna a genus of Lamnidae
member: porbeagle__Lamna_nasus voracious pointed-nose shark of northern Atlantic and Pacific
member: genus_Carcharodon__Carcharodon man-eating sharks
member: great_white_shark__greatwhiteshark__white_shark__whiteshark__man-eater__maneater__man-eating_shark__Carcharodon_carcharias large aggressive shark widespread in warm seas; known to attack humans
member: genus_Cetorhinus__Cetorhinus comprising only the basking sharks; in some classifications considered the type genus of a separate family Cetorhinidae
member: basking_shark__baskingshark__Cetorhinus_maximus large harmless plankton-eating northern shark; often swims slowly or floats at the sea surface
member: family_Cetorhinidae__Cetorhinidae in some older classifications considered the family of the basking sharks
member: family_Alopiidae__Alopiidae thresher sharks
member: genus_Alopius__Alopius type genus of the family Alopiidae; in some classifications considered a genus of the family Lamnidae
member: thresher_shark__thresher__thrasher__fox_shark__foxshark__Alopius_vulpinus large pelagic shark of warm seas with a whiplike tail used to round up small fish on which to feed
member: family_Orectolobidae__Orectolobidae nurse sharks and carpet sharks
member: genus_Orectolobus__Orectolobus carpet sharks
member: carpet_shark__Orectolobus_barbatus shark of the western Pacific with flattened body and mottled skin
member: genus_Ginglymostoma__Ginglymostoma nurse sharks
member: nurse_shark__Ginglymostoma_cirratum small bottom-dwelling shark of warm shallow waters on both coasts of North and South America and from southeast Asia to Australia
member: family_Carchariidae__Carchariidae__Odontaspididae__family_Odontaspididae sand sharks; in some classifications coextensive with family Carcharhinidae
member: genus_Carcharias__Carcharias__Odontaspis__genus_Odontaspis type and sole genus of Carchariidae: sand sharks
member: sand_tiger__sand_shark__Carcharias_taurus__Odontaspis_taurus shallow-water shark with sharp jagged teeth found on both sides of Atlantic; sometimes dangerous to swimmers
member: family_Rhincodontidae__Rhincodontidae small-toothed sharks comprising only one species
member: genus_Rhincodon__Rhincodon whale sharks
member: whale_shark__whaleshark__Rhincodon_typus large spotted shark of warm surface waters worldwide; resembles a whale and feeds chiefly on plankton
member: family_Scyliorhinidae__Scyliorhinidae small bottom-dwelling sharks
member: cat_shark__catshark small bottom-dwelling sharks with catlike eyes; found along continental slopes
member: family_Carcharhinidae__Carcharhinidae largest family of living sharks; found worldwide especially in tropical waters; dorsal fin lacks spines: requiem sharks including tiger sharks and soupfin sharks
member: requiem_shark__requiemshark any of numerous sharks from small relatively harmless bottom-dwellers to large dangerous oceanic and coastal species
member: genus_Carcharhinus__Carcharhinus type genus of the Carcharhinidae
member: bull_shark__cub_shark__cubshark__Carcharhinus_leucas a most common shark in temperate and tropical coastal waters worldwide; heavy-bodied and dangerous
member: sandbar_shark__sandbarshark__Carcharhinus_plumbeus most common gray shark along coasts of middle Atlantic states; sluggish and occasionally caught by fishermen
member: blacktip_shark__sandbar_shark__sandbarshark__Carcharhinus_limbatus widely distributed shallow-water shark with fins seemingly dipped in ink
member: oceanic_whitetip_shark__whitetip_shark__white-tipped_shark__Carcharinus_longimanus large deep-water shark with white-tipped dorsal fin; worldwide distribution; most dangerous shark
member: dusky_shark__duskyshark__Carcharhinus_obscurus relatively slender blue-gray shark; nearly worldwide in tropical and temperate waters
member: genus_Negaprion__Negaprion lemon sharks
member: lemon_shark__Negaprion_brevirostris common shallow-water schooling shark of the Atlantic from North Carolina to Brazil and off west Africa; dangerous
member: genus_Prionace__Prionace blue sharks
member: great_blue_shark__blue_shark__Prionace_glauca slender cosmopolitan, pelagic shark; blue body shades to white belly; dangerous especially during maritime disasters
member: genus_Galeocerdo__Galeocerdo tiger sharks
member: tiger_shark__Galeocerdo_cuvieri large dangerous warm-water shark with striped or spotted body
member: genus_Galeorhinus__Galeorhinus a genus of Carcharhinidae
member: soupfin_shark__soupfinshark__soupfin__Galeorhinus_zyopterus Pacific shark valued for its fins (used by Chinese in soup) and liver (rich in vitamin A)
member: family_Triakidae__Triakidae small smooth-skinned sharks lacking spines on dorsal fins
member: genus_Mustelus__Mustelus smooth dogfishes
member: American_smooth_dogfish__Mustelus_canis found along the Atlantic coast of the Americas
member: Florida_smoothhound__Mustelus_norrisi found from the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil
member: smooth_dogfish small bottom-dwelling shark found along both Atlantic coasts
member: genus_Triaenodon__Triaenodon a genus of Triakidae
member: reef_whitetip_shark__whitetip_shark__Triaenodon_obseus smooth dogfish of Pacific and Indian oceans and Red Sea having white-tipped dorsal and caudal fins
member: family_Squalidae__Squalidae dogfishes having a spine in each dorsal fin
member: spiny_dogfish__spinydogfish small bottom-dwelling dogfishes
member: genus_Squalus__Squalus spiny dogfishes
member: Atlantic_spiny_dogfish__Squalus_acanthias destructive dogfish of American and European Atlantic coastal waters; widely used in anatomy classes
member: Pacific_spiny_dogfish__Squalus_suckleyi dogfish of Pacific coast of North America
member: family_Sphyrnidae__Sphyrnidae hammerhead sharks; bonnethead sharks
member: genus_Sphyrna__Sphyrna type genus of the Sphyrnidae
member: hammerhead_shark__hammerhead medium-sized live-bearing shark with eyes at either end of a flattened hammer-shaped head; worldwide in warm waters; can be dangerous
member: family_Squatinidae__Squatinidae bottom-dwelling ray-like sharks
member: genus_Squatina__Squatina type genus of the Squatinidae: angel sharks
member: angel_shark__angelshark__angelfish__Squatina_squatina__monkfish sharks with broad flat bodies and winglike pectoral fins but that swim the way sharks do
member: order_Torpediniformes__Torpediniformes rays with torpedo-shaped bodies
member: family_Torpedinidae__Torpedinidae electric rays
member: electric_ray__crampfish__numbfish__torpedo any sluggish bottom-dwelling ray of the order Torpediniformes having a rounded body and electric organs on each side of the head capable of emitting strong electric discharges
member: order_Rajiformes__Rajiformes__Batoidei__order_Batoidei fish with dorsoventrally flattened bodies; includes: rays; skates; guitarfishes; sawfishes
member: family_Pristidae__Pristidae large primitive rays with elongated snouts
member: sawfish primitive ray with sharp teeth on each edge of a long flattened snout
member: genus_Pristis__Pristis type genus of the Pristidae
member: smalltooth_sawfish__Pristis_pectinatus commonly found in tropical bays and estuaries; not aggressive
member: family_Rhinobatidae__Rhinobatidae primitive rays with guitar-shaped bodies
member: guitarfish primitive tropical bottom-dwelling ray with a guitar-shaped body
member: family_Dasyatidae__Dasyatidae sting rays
member: stingray large venomous ray with large barbed spines near the base of a thin whiplike tail capable of inflicting severe wounds
member: genus_Dasyatis__Dasyatis type genus of the Dasyatidae
member: roughtail_stingray__roughtailstingray__Dasyatis_centroura one of the largest stingrays; found from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras
member: genus_Gymnura__Gymnura butterfly rays
member: butterfly_ray__butterflyray short-tailed broad-finned stingray
member: family_Myliobatidae__Myliobatidae eagle rays
member: eagle_ray__eagleray powerful free-swimming tropical ray noted for `soaring' by flapping winglike fins; usually harmless but has venomous tissue near base of the tail as in stingrays
member: genus_Aetobatus__Aetobatus a genus of Myliobatidae
member: spotted_eagle_ray__spottedeagleray__spotted_ray__spottedray__Aetobatus_narinari ray with back covered with white or yellow spots; widely distributed in warm seas
member: genus_Rhinoptera__Rhinoptera a genus of Myliobatidae
member: cownose_ray__cownoseray__cow-nosed_ray__cownosedray__Rhinoptera_bonasus large ray found along eastern coast of North America
member: family_Mobulidae__Mobulidae large rays lacking venomous spines: mantas
member: manta_ray__mantaray__manta__devilfish extremely large pelagic tropical ray that feeds on plankton and small fishes; usually harmless but its size make it dangerous if harpooned
member: genus_Manta a genus of Mobulidae
member: Atlantic_manta__Manta_birostris largest manta (to 22 feet across wings); found worldwide but common in Gulf of Mexico and along southern coasts of United States; primarily oceanic
member: genus_Mobula__Mobula type genus of the Mobulidae
member: devil_ray__devilray__Mobula_hypostoma small manta (to 4 feet) that travels in schools
member: family_Rajidae__Rajidae bottom-dwelling tropical rays: skates
member: skate large edible rays having a long snout and thick tail with pectoral fins continuous with the head; swim by undulating the edges of the pectoral fins
member: genus_Raja__Raja type genus of the family Rajidae
member: gray_skate__Raja_batis common European skate used as food
member: little_skate__Raja_erinacea most plentiful skate in North American inshore waters in summer; to 21 inches
member: thorny_skate__Raja_radiata cold-water bottom fish with spines on the back; to 40 inches
member: barndoor_skate__Raja_laevis one of the largest skates (to 5 feet); an active skate easy to hook
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