Zebra Shark   33-IV
VERTEBRATA
Chondrichthyes
 
 
Zebra Shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)



Chapter Outline
  1. Description of Vertebrata
  2. Classification of Vertebrata
  3. Cyclostomata (Ch. 32)
  4. Chondrichthyes
  5. Batoidea
  6. Chimaeriformes

Tree



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Chondrichthyes contains the sharks, rays and chimaeras. The first split is between the subclasses Elasmobranchii and Holocephali. There is just one order in Holocephali, Chimaeriformes, and it will be explored on page 33-VI. Elasmobranchii is split into the superorder Batoidea and the infraclass Selachii. Batoidea contains the rays and will be explored on the next page. Selachii contains the sharks and is split into two groups: Galeomorphii and Squalimorphii. Galeomorphii contains four orders and Squalimorphii contains three orders and two superorders, all of which will be explored on this page.

  • Chondrichthyes
    • Elasmobranchii
      • Selachii (this page)
        • Galeomorphii
          • Galeoidea
            • Carcharhiniformes - Ground Sharks
            • Lamniformes - Mackerel Sharks
            • Orectolobiformes - Carpet Sharks
          • Heterodontoidea
            • Heterodontiformes - Bullhead Sharks
        • Squalimorphii
          • Echinorhiniformes - Bramble Sharks
          • Hexanchiformes - Cow and Frilled Sharks
          • Pristiophoriformes - Saw Sharks
          • Squaliformes - Dogfishes
          • Squatiniformes - Angel Sharks
      • Batoidea - Rays (page 33-V)
        • Myliobatiformes - Stringrays
        • Rajiformes - Rays
        • Rhinopristiformes - Sawfishes, Guitarfishes
        • Torpediniformes - Electric Rays
    • Holocephali
      • Chimaeriformes - Chimaeras (page 33-VI)
CARCHARHINIFORMES  

This is the order of Ground Sharks. As of 2024, 31 species of Carcharhiniformes have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 151 throughout the world.

  • FAMILY CARCHARHINIDAE - REQUIEM SHARKS
    • Caribbean Reef Shark (Carcharhinus perezi) - NOAH
    • Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
    • Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) - (Florida Keys), NCBI
    • Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
    • Bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo) - third-most iNat observations in the US for Carcharhiniformes, but endangered - 6 (KC Zoo)
    • Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) - NOAH
    • Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
  • FAMILY HEMIGALEIDAE - WEASEL SHARKS
    • Hooktooth Shark (Chaenogaleus macrostoma) - NCBI
  • FAMILY LEPTOCHARIIDAE
    • Barbeled Houndshark (Leptocharias smithii) - (Equatorial Western Africa), NCBI
  • FAMILY PROSCYLLIIDAE
    • Pygmy Dogfish (Eridacnis barbouri) - (Florida)
  • FAMILY PSEUDOTRIAKIDAE - FALSE CAT SHARKS
    • Keel-Dorsal Shark (Pseudotriakis microdon) - NCBI
  • FAMILY SCYLIORHINIDAE - CAT SHARKS
    • Swell Shark (Cephaloscyllium) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
    • Chain Dogfish (Scyliorhinus retifer) - 8 (Shedd)
    • Brown Catshark (Apristurus brunneus) - (California), NCBI
  • FAMILY TRIAKIDAE - HOUNDSHARKS
    • Leopard Shark (Triakis semifasciata) - most iNat observations in the US for Carcharhiniformes - 7 (Monterey Bay), 8 (Shedd)
Resources:
LAMNIFORMES 

This is the order of Mackerel Sharks. As of 2024, 8 species of Lamniformes have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 14 throughout the world.

  • FAMILY ALOPIIDAE
    • Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias) - most iNat observations in the US for Lamniformes - 7 (Monterey Bay), NOAH
    • Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) - (U.S. East Coast), NCBI
    • Mako Sharks (Isurus spp.) - NCBI
    • Thresher Sharks (Alopias spp.) - NOAH
  • FAMILY MEGACHASMIDAE
    • Megamouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios) - (Southern California), NCBI
  • FAMILY MITSUKURINIDAE
    • Goblin Shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) - (Southern California), NCBI
  • FAMILY ODONTASPIDIDAE - SAND TIGERS
    • Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus) - 6 (Omaha and KC Zoos), (Eastern U.S.)
  • FAMILY PSEUDOCARCHARIIDAE
    • Crocodile Shark (Pseudocarcharias kamoharai) - NCBI
Resources:
ORECTOLOBIFORMES  

This is the order of Carpet Sharks. As of 2024, just two species of Orectolobiformes have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 36 throughout the world.

  • FAMILY BRACHAELURIDAE
    • Blind Sharks (Brachaelurus) - (Australia), NCBI
  • FAMILY GINGLYMOSTOMATIDAE - NURSE SHARKS
    • Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) - most iNat observations in the US for Orectolobiformes - 2 (Florida) - NOAH
  • FAMILY HEMISCYLLIIDAE
    • Whitespotted Bamboo Shark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) - 6 (KC Zoo)
    • Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum) - 6 (Denver Zoo)
  • FAMILY ORECTOLOBIDAE
    • Tassled Wobbegong (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
    • Spotted Wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
    • Ornate Wobbegong (Orectolobus ornatus) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
  • FAMILY PARASCYLLIIDAE
    • Collared Catshark (Parascyllium collare) - (Southeastern Australia)
  • FAMILY RHINCODONTIDAE
    • Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - 12 (Hawaii) - NOAH
  • FAMILY STEGOSTOMATIDAE
    • Zebra Shark (Stegostoma fasciatum) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
Resources:
HETERODONTIFORMES 

The order Heterodontiformes contains the family Heterodontidae, the Bullhead Sharks. As of 2024, just one species of Heterodontiformes has been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 7 throughout the world.

  • FAMILY HETERODONTIDAE
    • Horn Shark (Heterodontus francisci) - only iNat observation in the US for Heterodontiformes - 6 (Omaha Zoo), 7 (San Diego to Santa Barbara), NOAH
Resources:
ECHINORHINIFORMES 

The order Echinorhiniformes contains the family Echinorhinidae, the Bramble Sharks. As of 2024, only one species of Echinorhiniformes has been observed in iNaturalist in the US and just two throughout the world.

  • FAMILY ECHINORHINIDAE
    • Prickly Shark (Echinorhinus cookei) - only iNat observation in the US for Echinorhiniformes
Resources:
HEXANCHIFORMES 

This is the order of Cow and Frilled Sharks. As of 2024, just two species of Hexanchiformes have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 6 throughout the world.

  • FAMILY CHLAMYDOSELACHIDAE
    • Frilled Shark (Chlamydoselachus anguineus)
  • FAMILY HEXANCHIDAE - COW SHARKS
    • Broadnose Sevengill Shark (Notorynchus cepedianus) - most iNat observations in the US for Hexanchiformes
    • Bluntnose Sixgill Shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Resources:
PRISTIOPHORIFORMES  

The superorder Pristiophoriformes contains the family Pristiophoridae, the Saw Sharks. As of 2024, no species of Pristiophoriformes have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and just 4 throughout the world.

  • FAMILY PRISTIOPHORIDAE
    • Common Sawshark (Pristiophorus cirratus) - most iNat observations in the world for Pristiophoriformes - (all observations in SE Australia)
Resources:
SQUALIFORMES  

This is the order of Squaliform Sharks, such as Dogfishes. As of 2024, #### species of Squaliformes have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 58 throughout the world.

  • FAMILY CENTROPHORIDAE
    • Gulper Sharks (Centrophorus) - NCBI
  • FAMILY DALATIIDAE
    • Cookie-Cutter Shark (Isistius brasiliensis) - (Gulf of Mexico), NCBI
  • FAMILY ETMOPTERIDAE
    • Lantern Sharks (Etmopterus) - NCBI
  • FAMILY OXYNOTIDAE
    • Rough Sharks (Oxynotus) - NCBI
  • FAMILY SOMNIOSIDAE
    • Pacific Sleeper Shark (Somniosus pacificus) - NOAH
  • FAMILY SQUALIDAE - DOGFISH SHARKS
    • Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) - most iNat observations in the US for Squaliformes - 10 (Delaware Bay)
Resources:
SQUATINIFORMES 

The superorder Squatiniformes contains the family Squatinidae, the angel sharks. As of 2024, 2 species of Squatiniformes have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 12 throughout the world.

  • FAMILY SQUATINIDAE
    • Pacific Angelshark (Squatina californica) - most iNat observations in the US for Squatiniformes - 7 (San Diego to Santa Barbara)
Resources:

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