Scientific name Carcharhiniformes Higher classification Shark Phylum Chordata | Superorder Selachimorpha Mass Bull shark: 130 kg Rank Order | |
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Lower classifications Requiem shark, Hammerhead shark, Catshark, Houndshark, Smooth‑hound | ||
The ground sharks, order Carcharhiniformes, are the largest order of sharks. With over 270 species, carcharhiniforms include a number of common types, such as catsharks, swellsharks, and the sandbar shark.
Members of this order are characterized by the presence of a nictitating membrane over the eye, two dorsal fins, an anal fin, and five gill slits.
The families in the order Carcharhiniformes are expected to be revised; recent DNA studies show that some of the conventional groups are not monophyletic.
Families
According to FishBase, the eight families of ground sharks are:
References
Carcharhiniformes Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA