Appendix

Superorder Selachii

Order Hexanchiformes

Family Hexanchidae (cowsharks, six-gill, and seven-gill sharks)
Family Chlamydoselachidae (frilled sharks)

Order Squaliformes


Family Squalidae (dogfishes)

Family Echinorhinidae (bramble sharks)

Order Pristiophoriformes


Family Pristiophoridae (sawsharks)

Order Squatiniformes


Family Squatinidae (angelsharks)

Order Heterodontiformes


Family Heterodontidae (horn sharks)

Order Orectolobiformes


Family Orectolobidae (wobbegong sharks)

Family Ginglymostomatidae (nurse sharks)

Family Rhincodontidae (whale shark) *

Family Brachaeluridae (blind sharks)

Family Hemiscylliidae (bamboo sharks)

Family Stegostomatidae (zebra sharks)

*Some sources use the scientific name Rhiniodontidae for the whale shark family, and the genus name Rhiniodon for the whale shark. We chose the names used by the American Fisheries Society, who based their usage on the opinion of the 1984 International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.

Order Lamniformes


Family Odontaspididae (sand tiger sharks)

Family Mitsukurinidae (goblin shark)

Family Lamnidae (mackerel sharks)

Family Cetorhinidae (basking shark)

Family Alopiidae (thresher sharks)

Family Pseudocarchariidae (crocodile sharks)

Family Megachasmidae (megamouth shark)

Order Carcharhiniformes


Family Scyliorhinidae (catsharks)

Family Psoudotriakidae (false catsharks)

Family Triakidae (smoothhound sharks)

Family Hemigaleidae (weasel sharks)

Family Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks)

Family Sphyrnidae (hammerhead sharks)

Superorder Batoidea

Order Rajiformes


Family Rajidae (skates)

Family Rhinobatidae (guitarfish)

Order Torpediniformes


Family Torpedinidae (electric rays)

Order Pristiformes


Family Pristidae (sawfish)

Order Myliobatiformes


Family Dasyatidae (stingrays)

Family Myliobatidae (eagle rays)

Family Mobulidae (devil rays)

Family Rhinopteridae (cownosed rays)

Family Urolophidae (round stingrays)

Family Gymnuridae (butterfly rays)

Family Potamotrygonidae (river rays)