Ground sharks
The ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes) is an order of cartilaginous fish which includes the hammerhead sharks, cat sharks and requiem sharks. This is the biggest order of sharks, and they are found in marine, brackish and freshwater.
Featured in the following TV programmes
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A look at various fish species including sea dragon, fringehead and Hawaiian goby.
Family
Carcharhinidae
Tiger shark (species)Sphyrnidae
Hammerhead sharks (genus)
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About
The ground sharks, order Carcharhiniformes, are the largest order of sharks; they are also called whaler sharks. With over 270 species, carcharhiniforms include a number of common types, such as the blue shark, catsharks, swellsharks, and sandbar shark.
Members of the orders are characterized by the presence of a nictitating membrane over the eye, two dorsal fins, an anal fin, and five gill slits.
The families of the carcharhiniforms are expected to be revised; recent DNA studies show that some of the traditional groups are not monophyletic.
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Scientific Classification
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Other Chondrichthyes
- Lamniformes (species: Great white shark)
- Orectolobiformes (species: Whale shark)
- Rays, skates and allies (Rajiformes)
Elsewhere on the web
- Carcharhiniformes (animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu)
- Ground shark taxonomy (elasmo-research.org)
- Carcharhiniformes (wikipedia.org)
Site links
BBC links
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