| Frilled and Cow Sharks | Bullhead Sharks | Mackerel Sharks |
| Carptesharks | Ground Sharks | Dogfish Sharks |
| Angel Sharks | Sawsharks | Saw Fish |
| Guitarfish | Electric Rays | Skates |
| Stingrays and Eagle Rays | Chimaeras |
Fish are all members of the phylum Chordata, sub-phylum Vertebrata. Fish
are generally spindle-shaped, oval, and flattened either sideways
or dorsal-ventrally. The skin is covered in protective scales, with some
exceptions (lampreys, ocean sunfish). All fish have fins of some sort, although the
size, number, and shape vary. Fish breathe through gills, and only a very
few have actual lungs. Most fish have a special organ known as a
swimbladder that prevents them from sinking, and, in some cases, aids in
respiration. The common name "fish" refers to four different classes, including Chondrichthyes.
The class Chondrichthyes is composed of 600 spp, divided in two
subclasses: Elasmobranchii and Holocephali. Elasmobranchii is made up of
the most common cartilaginous fish: rays and sharks.
Elasmobranchii has 13 orders:
Holocephali has 1 order:
Hexanchiformes (frilled and cow sharks)
Heterodontiformes (bullhead sharks)
Lamniformes (mackerel sharks)
Orectolobiformes (carpetsharks)
Carcharhiniformes (ground sharks)
Squaliformes (dogfish sharks)
Pristiophoriformes (sawsharks)
Squatiniformes (angel sharks)
Rajiformes (skates)
Pristiformes (saw fish)
Rhinobatiformes (guitarfish)
Torpediniformes (electric rays)
Myliobatiformes (stingrays, eagle rays) Chimaeriformes (chimaeras, rabbitfish) 30 spp
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