Sharks belong to the Phylum Chordata and the Sub-phylum Vertebrata. This means they have a spinal chord, notochord and a backbone (vertebrae). Includes the more familiar groups: birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Sharks belong to the Class Chondrichthyes. This includes all fish that have a skeleton made of cartilage.

Sharks are a group of elasmobranch cartilaginous fish characterized by a ribless endoskeleton, dermal denticles, five to seven gill slits on each side, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the division Selachii[1] (or Selachimorpha) [2] and are the sister group to the Batoidea (rays and skates).

Taxonomy breaks sharks down by their evolutionary traits into seven sub-categories: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species. Understanding these subcategories is the best way to learn about the types of sharks.

Facts about many sharks from the eight orders of sharks from the Shark Research Institute (SRI). SRI conducts and sponsors rigorous, peer-reviewed field research about sharks and uses science-based information to educate and advocate for shark conservation policies and protections by the world’s governing bodies, including CITES.

To make it easy to identify and study different species of sharks, Carl Linneaus devised a taxonomic classification system. According to this system, sharks belong to the kingdom Animalia; Phylum Chordata; and Class Chondrichthyes.

There are over 350 species of sharks known worldwide. Sharks are classified as follows: Living sharks are divided into 8 Orders: Hexanchiformes (anal fin, 6-7 gills, 1 dorsal fin) - frilled and cow sharks - having six or seven gills on each side of the head. Flattened body, mouth at the front.

Mar 3, 2025 · The classification of a shark, often referred to as a “shark fish,” places it within a specific branch of the animal kingdom, characterized by its unique features. To be precise, a shark belongs to the Class Chondrichthyes, which is a group of jawed fish distinguished by their cartilaginous skeletons, meaning their

Aug 11, 2020 · Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha and are the sister group to the rays. There are over 500 species of sharks. Some of the better-known species include the tiger shark,...

Among shark taxonomists, conservative estimates of the number of known shark species has now exceeded 500. Combined with 700 or more species of rays and skates, there are well over a thousand valid species of elasmobranchs.

Elasmobranchs are grouped into two superorders: Batoidea (rays and their relatives) and Selachii (sharks). Of the rays, skates, and sawfishes, rays were the first to develop, beginning in the Late Jurassic Period, some 150 million years ago. Selachians include all sharks.