Carcharhiniformes
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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.
[edit] Families
- Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks)
- Hemigaleidae (weasel sharks)
- Leptochariidae (barbeled houndshark)
- Proscylliidae (finback cat sharks)
- Pseudotriakidae (false cat sharks)
- Scyliorhinidae (cat sharks)
- Sphyrnidae (hammerhead sharks)
- Triakidae (hound sharks)
