SHARK SPECIES

The taxonomy of sharks and rays

The taxonomy of sharks and rays is a subject that remains in hot debate. Although the majority of elasmobranch families have been nailed down there will always be individual species that don't quite fit the characteristics of their sibling species. Consequently species are occasionally reclassified or simply listed as awaiting review. One of the most confusing of families is the Potamotrygonidae - the fresh water stingrays of South America. Not only do these ray species adopt extremely varied patterns that are sometimes visually indistinguishable from other species, they also produce hybrids in certain parts of their ranges leaving us wondering what exactly a true species is anyway.

Among shark taxonomists conservative estimates of the number of known shark species is now approaching 500. Combined with the 700 or more species of rays and skates there are well over a thousand valid species of elasmobranches. In the past many more species were described only to be discounted later as being synonymous with elasmobranches already described from other geographic areas. In recent years this problem has lessened because taxonomic data has become easier to share over the internet. However, taxonomists are as vain as the rest of us and in their efforts to be the first to describe (and name) a new species there is often a counterproductive lack of collaboration.

Some abyssal species have been described from only one or two specimens captured during deep water trawls. This implies that in all likelihood there are many shark and ray species lurking on the abyssal plain that have not yet been seen or captured. The best example being the relatively recent discovery of the Megamouth Shark. If this large and slow moving shark could remain hidden until the 1980's, who knows how many other elasmobranches have gone unnoticed.

Following is a list (in need of an update) of all the described species of elasmobranches. Included at the bottom are the Holocephali; the chimaeras or ghost sharks that share many characteristics with modern sharks and rays but are thought to be descended from a different group that thrived during the Late Devonian Period.

Other pages on Elasmodiver relating to Shark and Ray taxonomy:

 

Newly described sharks and rays

Occasionally new species of sharks and rays are described by science. In some cases they have been well known for a while e.g. the Western wobbegong but no one has gotten around to describing them. More exciting is when a deep water trawl or a lucky diving expedition uncovers a species that the scientific community was completely unaware of. This page on elasmodiver highlights the discovery of these species. Many thanks to Helmut Nickel who somehow manages to find out whenever a new species is described and diligently informs the rest of the lay community of shark fanatics through Shark-L. Without his input I wouldn't have a clue.

If you have information about a species I have overlooked please email me the information and I will add it to the list.

Description of the Dasyatidae - Whiptail Stingrays

Includes a key to identifying the genus of the Dasyatidae (Whiptail stingrays).

 

Description of the Potamotrygonidae - River Stingrays

Includes a key to identifying the genus of the Potamotrygonidae (River Stingrays).

 

KINGDOM METAZOA - Animals

PHYLUM CHORDATA - Animals that at some point in their life cycle have the following: Pharyngeal slits (a series of openings connecting the inside of the throat to the outside of the neck. In fish these become gill slits), dorsal nerve cord (a bundle of nerve fibres running down the back, connecting the brain with the organs and extremities, a notochord (a cartilaginous rod supporting the nerve cord), post anal tail (an extension of the 'back' past the anal opening).

SUBPHYLUM VERTEBRATA - Animals with a vertibral column or backbone and neural crest cells which are released as the nerve cord is forming, these cells move through the body to form major nerves, neural ganglia, and many head and facial features. Other features that separate vertebrates from other chordates include: a relatively well-developed brain, paired complex eyes, a muscularized mouth and pharynx, and a well-developed circulatory system with a heart.

CLASS CHONDRICHTHYES - Cartilaginous fishes lacking true bone. Chondrichthyes can be split into two distinct subclasses ELASMOBRANCHII and BRADYODONTI.

SUBCLASS ELASMOBRANCHII - SHARKS, SKATES AND RAYS (and some fossil relatives). Elasmobranchs have an upper jaw that is not fused to the braincase and separate slitted gill openings.

SHARKS

JUMP TO Order HEXANCHIFORMES - Sixgill, Sevengill and Frilled Sharks  

JUMP TO Order SQUALIFORMES - Dogfish Sharks

JUMP TO Order PRISTIOPHORIFORMES - Sawsharks

JUMP TO Order SQUATINIFORMES - Angelsharks

JUMP TO Order HETERODONTIFORMES - Bullhead Sharks

JUMP TO Order ORECTOLOBIFORMES - Carpetsharks 

JUMP TO Order LAMNIFORMES - Mackerel Sharks

JUMP TO Order CARCHARHINIFORMES - Ground Sharks 

RAYS

JUMP TO Order TORPEDINIFORMES - Electric rays

JUMP TO Order MYLIOBATIFORMES - Stingrays, Eagle rays, Butterfly rays, Devil rays, Cownose rays

JUMP TO Order PRISTIFORMES - Sawfishes

JUMP TO Order RHINOBATIFORMES - Guitarfishes

SKATES

JUMP TO Order RAJIFORMES - Skates

CHIMAERAS

SUBCLASS HOLOCEPHALI - includes forms with an upper jaw fused to the braincase and a flap of skin, the operculum, covering the gill slits. The Holocephalii includes the chimaeras and ratfishes, which are relatively rare, often deep-water, mollusc-eating forms.

JUMP TO Order CHIMAERIFORMES - Chimaeras 

 Order HEXANCHIFORMES - Sixgill, Sevengill and Frilled Sharks   BACK TO TOP

	Family CHLAMYDOSELA  - Frilled Sharks One Species Chlamydoselachus anguineus - Frilled shark
	Family HEXANCHIDAE  - Sixgill and Sevengill SharksFour Species Heptranchias perlo - Sharpnose sevengill shark Hexanchus griseus - Bluntnose sixgill shark Hexanchus vitulus - Bigeye sixgill shark Notorynchus cepedianus - Broadnose or spotted sevengill shark

  Order SQUALIFORMES - Dogfish Sharks   BACK TO TOP 

	Family ECHINORHINIDAE - Bramble Sharks Two Species Echinorhinus brucus - Bramble shark Echinorhinus cookei - Prickly shark
	Family SQUALIDAE - Dogfish sharks 70 Species Aculeola nigra - Hooktooth dogfish Centrophorus acus - Needle dogfish Centrophorus granulosus - Gulper shark Centrophorus harrissoni - Dumb gulper shark Centrophorus lusitanicus - Lowfin gulper shark Centrophorus moluccensis - Smallfin gulper shark Centrophorus niaukang - Taiwan gulper shark Centrophorus squamosus - Leafscale gulper shark Centrophorus tesselatus - Mosaic gulper shark Centrophorus uyato - Little gulper shark Centroscyllium fabricii - Black dogfish Centroscyllium granulatum - Granular dogfish Centroscyllium kamoharai - Bareskin dogfish Centroscyllium nigrum - Combtooth dogfish Centroscyllium ornatum - Ornate dogfish Centroscyllium ritteri - Whitefin dogfish Centroscymnus coelolepis - Portuguese dogfish Centroscymnus crepidater - Longnose velvet dogfish Centroscymnus cryptacanthus - Shortnose velvet dogfish Centroscymnus macracanthus - Largespine velvet dogfish Centroscymnus owstoni - Roughskin dogfish Centroscymnus plunketi - Plunket shark Cirrhigaleus barbifer - Mandarin dogfish Dalatias licha - Kitefin shark Deania calcea - Birdbeak dogfish Deania hystricosum - Rough longnose dogfish Deania profundorum - Arrowhead dogfish Deania quadrispinosum - Longsnout dogfish Etmopterus baxteri - New Zealand lanternshark Etmopterus brachyurus - Shorttail lanternshark Etmopterus bullisi - Lined lanternshark Etmopterus carteri - Cylindrical lanternshark Etmopterus decacuspidatus - Combtooth lanternshark Etmopterus gracilispinis - Broadband lanternshark Etmopterus granulosus - Southern lanternshark Etmopterus hillianus - Carribean lanternshark Etmopterus lucifer - Blackbelly lanternshark Etmopterus perryi - Dwarf lanternshark Etmopterus polli - African lanternshark Etmopterus princeps - Great lanternshark Etmopterus pusillus - Smooth lanternshark Etmopterus schultzi - Fringefin lanternshark Etmopterus sentosus - Thorny lanternshark Etmopterus spinax - Velvet belly Etmopterus unicolor - Brown lanternshark Etmopterus villosus - Hawaiian lanternshark Etmopterus virens - Green lanternshark Euprotomicroides zantedeschia - Taillight shark Europtomicrus bispinatus - Pygmy shark Heteroscymnoides marleyi - Longnose pygmy shark Isistius brasiliensis - Cookiecutter or cigar shark Isistius plutodus - Largetooth cookiecutter shark Mollisquama parini - Softskin dogfish Scymnodalatias sherwoodi - Sherwood dogfish Scymnodon ichiharai - Japanese velvet dogfish Scymnodon ringens - Knifetooth dogfish Scymnodon squamulosus - Greenland sleeper shark Somniosus microcephalus - Greenland Shark Somniosus pacificus - Pacific sleeper shark Somniosus rostratus - Little sleeper shark Squaliolus laticaudus - Spined pygmy shark Squalus acanthias - Spiny dogfish Squalus asper - Roughskin spurdog Squalus blainvillei - Longnose spurdog Squalus cubensis - Cuban dogfish Squalus japonicus - Japanese spurdog Squalus magalops - Shortnose spurdog Squalus melanurus - Blacktail spurdog Squalus mitsukurii - Shortspine spurdog Squalus rancureli - Cyrano spurdog
	Family OXYNOTIDAE - Roughsharks Five Species Oxynotus bruniensis - Prickly dogfish Oxynotus carribaeus - Carribean roughshark Oxynotus centrina - Angular roughshark Oxynotus japonicus - Japanese roughshark Oxynotus paradoxus - Sailfin roughshark

Order PRISTIOPHORIFORMES - Sawsharks   BACK TO TOP  

Family PRISTIOPHORIDAE - Sawsharks Five Species Pliotrema warreni - Sixgill sawshark Pristiophorus cirratus - Longnose sawshark Pristiophorus japonicus - Japanese sawshark Pristiophorus nudipinnis - Shortnose sawshark Pristiophorus schroederi - Bahamas sawshark

  Order SQUATINIFORMES - Angelsharks   BACK TO TOP

Family SQUATINIDAE - Angelsharks 13 Species Squatina aculeata - Sawback angelshark Squatina africana - African angelshark Squatina argentina - Argentine angelshark Squatina australis - Australian angelshark Squatina californica - Pacific angelshark Squatina dumeril - Sand devil Squatina formosa - Taiwan angelshark Squatina japonica - Japanese angelshark Squatina nebulosa - Clouded angelshark Squatina oculata - Smoothback angelshark Squatina squatina - Common Angel Shark Squatina tergocellata - Ornate angelshark Squatina tergocellatoides - Ocellated angelshark

  Order HETERODONTIFORMES - Bullhead Sharks   BACK TO TOP

Family HETERODONTIDAE - Bullhead sharks Eight Species Heterodontus francisci - Horn shark Heterodontus galeatus - Crested bullhead shark Heterodontus japonicus - Japanese bullhead shark Heterodontus mexicanus - Mexican hornshark Heterodontus portusjacksoni - Port Jackson shark Heterodontus quoyi - Galapagos bullhead shark Heterodontus ramalheira - Whitespotted bullhead shark Heterodontus zebra - Zebra bullhead shark

  Order ORECTOLOBIFORMES - Carpetsharks   BACK TO TOP

	Family PARASCYLLIDAE - Collared Carpetsharks Six Species Cirrhoscyllium expolitum - Barbelthroat carpetshark Cirrhoscyllium formosanum - Taiwan saddled carpetshark Cirrhoscyllium japonicum - Saddled carpetshark Parascyllium ferrugineum - Rusty carpetshark Parascyllium multimaculatum - Tasmanian carpetshark Parascyllium variolatum - Necklace carpetshark or Varied carpetshark
	Family BRACHAELURIDAE - Blind sharks Two Species Brachaelurus waddi - Blind shark Heteroscyllium colcloughi - Bluegrey carpetshark
	Family ORECTOLOBIDAE - Wobbegongs Six species Eucrossorhinus dasypogon - Tasselled wobbegong Orectolobus halei - Banded Wobbegong Orectolobus hutchinsi - Western Wobbegong Orectolobus japonicus - Japanese wobbegong Orectolobus maculatus - Spotted wobbegong Orectolobus ornatus - Dwarf Ornate wobbegong Orectolobus wardi - Northern wobbegong Sutorectus tentaculatus - Cobbler wobbegong
	Family HEMISCYLLIDAE - Longtailed Carpetshark 12 species Chiloscyllium arabicum - Arabian carpetshark Chiloscyllium burmensis - Burmese bambooshark Chiloscyllium caerulopunctatum - Bluespotted bambooshark Chiloscyllium griseum - Grey bambooshark Chiloscyllium hasselti - Indonesian bambooshark Chiloscyllium indicum - Slender bambooshark Chiloscyllium plagiosum - Whitespotted bambooshark Chiloscyllium punctatum - Brownbanded bambooshark Hemiscyllium freycineti - Indonesian speckled carpetshark Hemiscyllium hallstromi - Papuan epaulette shark Hemiscyllium ocellatum - Epaulette shark Hemiscyllium strahani - Hooded carpetshark Hemiscyllium trispeculare - Speckled carpetshark
	Family GINGLYMOSTOMATIDAE - Nurse Sharks Three species Ginglymostoma brevicaudatum - Shorttail nurse shark Ginglymostoma cirratum - Nurse shark Nebrius ferrugineus - Tawny nurse shark or giant sleepy shark
	Family STEGOSTOMATIDAE - Zebra Sharks One species Stegostoma fasciatum - Zebra shark
	Family RHINCODONTIDAE - Whale Sharks One Species  Rhincodon typus - Whale shark

  Order LAMNIFORMES - Mackerel Sharks   BACK TO TOP

	Family ODONTASPIDIDAE - Sand Tiger Sharks Four Species Carcharias taurus - Sand tiger, spotted raggedtooth, or grey nurse shark Eugomphodus tricuspidatus - Indian sand tiger Odontaspis ferox - Smalltooth sand tiger or bumpytail raggedtooth Odontaspis noronhai - Bigeye sand tiger
	Family PSEUDOCARCHARIDAE - Crocodile Sharks One Species Pseudocarcharias kamoharai - Crocodile shark
	Family MITSUKURINIDAE - Goblin Sharks One Species Mitsukurina owstoni - Goblin shark
	Family MEGACHASMIDAE - Megamouth Sharks  One Species Megachasma pelagios - Megamouth Shark
	Family ALOPIIDAE - Thresher Sharks Three Species Alopias pelagicus - Pelagic thresher Alopias superciliosus - Bigeye thresher Alopias vulpinus - Thresher shark
	Family CETORHINIDAE - Basking Sharks One Species Cetorhinus maximus - Basking shark
	Family LAMNIDAE - Mackerel Sharks Five Species Carcharodon carcharias - Great white shark Isurus oxyrinchus - Shortfin mako Isurus paucus - Longfin mako Lamna ditropis - Salmon shark Lamna nasus - Probeagle shark

  Order CARCHARHINIFORMES - Ground Sharks   BACK TO TOP

	Family SCYLIORHINIDAE - Catsharks 92 Species Apristurus atlanticus - Atlantic ghost catshark Apristurus brunneus - Brown catshark Apristurus canutus - Hoary catshark Apristurus federovi - Federov's catshark Apristurus herklotsi - Longfin catshark Apristurus indicus - Smallbelly catshark Apristurus investigatoris - Broadnose catshark Apristurus japonicus - Japanese catshark Apristurus kampae - Longnose catshark Apristurus laurussoni - Iceland catshark Apristurus longicephalus - Longhead catshark Apristurus macrorhynchus - Flathead catshark Apristurus maderensis - Madeira catshark Apristurus manis - Ghost catshark Apristurus microps - Smalleye catshark Apristurus nasutus - Largenose catshark Apristurus parvipinnis - Smallfin catshark Apristurus pinguis - Fat catshark Apristurus platyrhynchus - Spatulasnout catshark Apristurus profundorum - Deepwater catshark Apristurus riveri - Broadgill catshark Apristurus saldanha - Saldanha catshark Apristurus sibogae - Pale catshark Apristurus sinensis - South China catshark Apristurus spongiceps - Spongehead catshark Apristurus stenseni - Panama ghost catshark Apristurus verweyi - Borneo catshark Asymbolus analis - Australian spotted catshark Asymbolus vincenti - Gulf catshark Atelomycterus macleayi - Australian marbled catshark Atelomycterus marmoratus - Coral catshark Aulohalaelurus labiosus - Blackspotted catshark Cephaloscyllium fasciatum - Reticulated swellshark Cephaloscyllium isabellum - Draughtsboard shark Cephaloscyllium laticeps - Australian swellshark Cephaloscyllium nascione - Whitefinned swellshark Cephaloscyllium silasi - Indian swellshark Cephaloscyllium sufflans - Balloon shark Cephaloscyllium ventriosum - Swellshark Cephalurus cephalus - Lollipop catshark Galeus arae - Roughtail catshark Galeus boardmani - Australian sawtail catshark Galeus eastmani - Gecko catshark Galeus melastomus - Blackmouth catshark Galeus murinus - Mouse catshark Galeus nipponensis - Broadfin sawtail catshark Galeus piperatus - Peppered catshark Galeus polli - African sawtail catshark Galeus sauteri - Blacktip sawtail catshark Galeus schultzi - Dwarf sawtail catshark Halaelurus alcocki - Arabian catshark Halaelurus boesemani - Speckled catshark Halaelurus buergeri - Blackspotted catshark Halaelurus canescens - Dusky catshark Halaelurus dawsoni - New Zealand catshark Halaelurus hispidus - Bristly catshark Halaelurus immaculatus - Spotless catshark Halaelurus lineatus - Lined catshark Halaelurus lutarius - Mud catshark Halaelurus natalensis - Tiger catshark Halaelurus quagga - Quagga catshark Haploblepharus edwardsii - Puffadder shyshark Haploblepharus fuscus - Brown shyshark Haploblepharus pictus - Dark shyshark Holohalaelurus punctatus - African spotted catshark Holohalaelurus regani - Izak catshark Parmaturus campechiensis - Campeche catshark Parmaturus macmillani - New Zealand filetail Parmaturus melanobranchius - Blackgill catshark Parmaturus pilosus - Salamander shark Parmaturus xaniurus - Filetail catshark Pentanchus profundicolus - Onefin catshark Poroderma africanum - Striped catshark or pyjama shark Poroderma marleyi - Barbeled catshark Poroderma patherinum - Leopard catshark Schroederichthys bivius - Narrowmouth catshark Schroederichthys chilensis - Redspotted catshark Schroederichthys maculatus - Narrowtail catshark Schroederichthys tenuis - Slender catshark Scyliorhinus besnardi - Polkadot catshark Scyliorhinus boa - Boa catshark Scyliorhinus canicula - Lesser spotted catshark Scyliorhinus capensis - Yellowspotted catshark Scyliorhinus cervigoni - West African catshark Scyliorhinus garmani - Brownspotted catshark Scyliorhinus haeckelii - Freckled catshark Scyliorhinus hesperius - Whitesaddled catshark Scyliorhinus meadi - Blotched catshark Scyliorhinus retifer - Chain catshark Scyliorhinus stellaris - Nursehound Scyliorhinus torazame - Cloudy catshark Scyliorhinus torrei - Dwarf catshark
	Family PROSCYLLIDAE - Finback Catsharks Six Species Ctenacis fehlmanni - Harlequin catshark Eridacnis barbouri - Cuban ribbontail catshark Eridacnis radcliffei - Pygmy ribbontail catshark Eridacnis sinuans - African ribbontail catshark Gollum attentuatus - Slender smoothhound Proscyllium habereri - Graceful catshark
	Family PSEUDOTRIAKIDAE - False Catsharks One Species Pseudotriakis microdon - False catshark
	Family LEPTOCHARIIDAE - Barbeled Houndshark One species Leptocharias smithii - Barbeled houndshark
	Family TRIAKIDAE - Houndsharks 34 species Furgaleus macki - Whiskery shark Galeorhinus galeus - Tope shark Gogolia filewoodi - Sailback houndshark Hemitriakis japanica - Japanese topeshark Hemitriakis leucoperiptera - Whitefin topeshark Hypogaleus hyugaensis - Blacktip topeshark Iago garricki - Longnose houndshark Iago omanensis - Bigeye houndshark Mustelus antarcticus - Gummy shark Mustelus asterias - Starry smoothhound Mustelus californicus - Grey smoothhound Mustelus canis - Dusky smoothhound / Smooth Dogfish Mustelus dorsalis - Sharpnose smoothhound Mustelus fasciatus - Striped smoothhound Mustelus griseus - Spotless smoothhound Mustelus henlei - Brown smoothhound Mustelus higmani - Smalleye smoothhound Mustelus lenticulatus - Spotted estuary smoothhound or rig Mustelus lunulatus - Sicklefin smoothhound Mustelus manazo - Starspotted smoothhound Mustelus mento - Speckled smoothhound Mustelus mosis - Arabian, hardnose, or Moses smoothhound Mustelus mustelus - Smoothhound Mustelus norrisi - Narrowfin or Florida smoothhound Mustelus palumbes - Whitespot smoothhound Mustelus punctulatus - Blackspot smoothhound Mustelus schmitti - Narrownose smoothhound   Mustelus sinusmexicanus - Gulf of Mexico smoothhound Mustelus whitneyi - Humpback smoothhound Scylliogaleus quecketti - Flapnose houndshark Triakis acutipinna - Sharpfin houndshark Triakis maculata - Spotted houndshark Triakis megalopterus - Sharptooth houndshark or spotted gully shark Triakis scyllium - Banded houndshark Triakis semifasciata - Leopard shark
	Family HEMIGALEIDAE - Weasel sharks Six Species Chaenogaleus macrostoma - Hooktooth shark Hemigaleus microstoma - Sicklefin weasel shark Hemipristis elongatus - Snaggletooth shark Paragaleus leucolomatus - Whitetip weasel shark Paragaleus pectoralis - Atlantic weasel shark Paragaleus tengi - Straighttooth weasel shark
	Family CARCHARHINIDAE - Requiem sharks 48 Species Carcharhinus acronotus - Blacknose shark Carcharhinus albimarginatus - Silvertip shark Carcharhinus altimus - Bignose shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchoides - Graceful shark Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos - Grey reef shark Carcharhinus amboinensis - Pigeye or Java shark Carcharhinus borneensis - Borneo shark Carcharhinus brachyurus - Copper shark or bronze whaler Carcharhinus brevipinna - Spinner shark Carcharhinus cautus - Nervous shark Carcharhinus dussumieri - Whitecheek shark Carcharhinus falciformis - Silky shark Carcharhinus fitzroyensis - Creek whaler Carcharhinus galapagenisis - Galapagos shark Carcharhinus hemiodon - Pondicherry shark Carcharhinus isodon - Finetooth shark Carcharhinus leucas - Bull or Zambezi shark Carcharhinus limbatus - Blacktip shark Carcharhinus longimanus - Oceanic whitetip shark Carcharhinus macloti - Hardnose shark Carcharhinus melanopterus - Blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus obscurus - Dusky shark Carcharhinus perezi - Caribbean reef shark Carcharhinus plumbeus - Sandbar shark Carcharhinus porosus - Smalltail shark Carcharhinus sealei - Blackspot shark Carcharhinus signatus - Night shark Carcharhinus sorrah - Spottail shark Carcharhinus wheeleri - Blacktail reef shark Galeocerdo cuvier - Tiger shark Glyphis gangeticus - Ganges shark Glyphis glyphis - Speartooth shark Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus - Daggernose shark Lamiopsis temmincki - Broadfin shark Loxodon macrorhinus - Sliteye shark Nasolamia velox - Whitenose shark Negraprion acutidens - Sharptooth lemon shark Negraprion brevirostris - Lemon shark Prionace glauca - Blue shark Rhizoprionodon acutus - Milk shark Rhizoprionodon lalandei - Brazilian sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon longurio - Pacific sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon oligolinx - Grey sharpnose shark Rhizopriondon porosus - Carribean sharpnose shark Rhizopriondon taylori - Australian sharpnose shark Rhizopriondon terraenovae - Atlantic sharpnose shark Scoliodon laticaudus - Spadenose shark Triaenodon obesus - Whitetip reef shark
	Family SPHYRNIDAE - Hammerhead sharks Ten Species Eusphyra blochii - Winghead shark Sphyrna corona - Mallethead shark Sphyrna couardi - Whitefin hammerhead Sphyrna lewini - Scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna media - Scoophead shark Sphyrna mokarran - Great hammerhead Sphyrna tiburo - Bonnethead shark Sphyrna tudes - Smalleye hammerhead  Sphyrna zygaena - Smooth hammerhead Sphyrna Sp.A - Cryptic Scalloped hammerhead

  Order TORPEDINIFORMES - Electric rays   BACK TO TOP

Family Narkidae - Electric rays   Benthobatis marcida - blind torpedo (occurs below 200m depth) Diplobatis ommata - Bulls-eye electric ray (Occurs on sand and mud bottoms. Eastern pacific) Discopyge tschudii -  Heteronarce garmani - Natal electric ray Narcine brasiliensis - Lesser electric ray (Found on sandy or muddy bottoms in shallow water. Max recorded depth 36m). Narcine brevilabiata - (Offshore species found on continental tropical waters, known from a depth of 49 m). Narcine brunnea - Brown numbfish (Continental waters) Narcine entemedor - Giant electric ray (Benthic in shallow, protected waters, over muddy bottom). Narcine indica - Narcine lingula (found in continental waters both inshore and offshore). Narcine prodorsalis - (Continental waters both inshore and offshore. Known from a depth of 49m). Narcine timlei - Spotted numbfish (Continental waters, inshore and offshore). Narcine vermiculatus - Vermiculate electric ray (Benthic on soft bottoms in protected coastal areas). Narke dipterygia - Numbray (Shallow coastal waters)         Narke japonica - Shibire-ei (Japanese. Caught in local inshore and offshore fisheries). Temera hardwickii - Pari karas (Malay/Indonesian. Found inshore and offshore)

Family Torpedinidae - Torpedo rays   Crassinarke dormitor - Nemuri-shibire-ei (Japanese) Hypnos monopterygium - Australian numbfish, Coffin ray, Crampfish Torpedo alexandrinsis - Alexandrine torpedo Torpedo andersoni - Florida torpedo Torpedo bauchotae - Rosette torpedo Torpedo californica - Pacific electric ray Torpedo fairchildi - New Zealand torpedo Torpedo fuscomaculata - Black-spotted torpedo Torpedo mackayana - Ringed torpedo Torpedo macneilli - Shorttail torpedo Torpedo marmorata - Marbled Torpedo Ray Torpedo microdiscus - Smalldisk torpedo Torpedo nobiliana - Atlantic torpedo Torpedo panthera - Panther electric ray Torpedo peruana - Peruvian torpedo Torpedo puelcha - Argentine torpedo Torpedo semipelagica - Semipelagic torpedo Torpedo Sinuspersici - Variable torpedo ray Torpedo tokionsis - Trapezoid torpedo Torpedo torpedo - Common torpedo Torpedo tremens - torpedo

Order MYLIOBATIFORMES - Stingrays, Eagle rays, Devil rays   BACK TO TOP

• Family DASYATIDAE - Whiptail stingrays

	Dasyatis acutirostra Nishida & Nakaya, 1988
	Dasyatis akajei (Müller & Henle, 1841)Red stingray
	Dasyatis americana Hildebrand & Schroeder, 1928Southern stingray
	Dasyatis annotata Last, 1987Plain maskray
	Dasyatis bennetti (Müller & Henle, 1841)Bennett's stingray
	Dasyatis brevicaudata (Hutton, 1875)Short-tail stingray
	Dasyatis brevis (Garman, 1880)Whiptail stingray
	Dasyatis centroura (Mitchill, 1815)Roughtail stingray
	Dasyatis chrysonota chrysonota(Smith, 1828)Blue stingray
	Dasyatis chrysonota marmorata(Steindachner, 1892)Marbled stingray
	Dasyatis dipterura (Jordan & Gilbert, 1880)Diamond stingray
	Dasyatis fluviorum Ogilby, 1908Estuary stingray
	Dasyatis garouaensis (Stauch & Blanc, 1962)Smooth freshwater stingray
	Dasyatis geijskesi Boeseman, 1948Sharpsnout stingray
	Dasyatis gigantea (Lindberg, 1930)Giant stumptail stingray
	Dasyatis guttata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)Longnose stingray
	Dasyatis izuensis Nishida & Nakaya, 1988Izu stingray
	Dasyatis kuhlii (Müller & Henle, 1841)Bluespotted stingray
	Dasyatis laevigata Chu, 1960Yantai stingray
	Dasyatis laosensis Roberts & Karnasuta, 1987Mekong stingray
	Dasyatis lata (Garman, 1880)Brown stingray
	Dasyatis leylandi Last, 1987Painted maskray
	Dasyatis longa (Garman, 1880)Longtail stingray
	Dasyatis margarita (Günther, 1870)Daisy stingray
	Dasyatis margaritella Compagno & Roberts, 1984Pearl stingray
	Dasyatis marianae Gomes, Rosa & Gadig, 2000
	Dasyatis matsubarai Miyosi, 1939Pitted stingray
	Dasyatis microps (Annandale, 1908)Smalleye stingray
	Dasyatis multispinosa (Tokarev, 1959)Multispine giant stingray
	Dasyatis navarrae (Steindachner, 1892)Blackish stingray
	Dasyatis pastinaca (Linnaeus, 1758)Common stingray
	Dasyatis rudis (Günther, 1870)Smalltooth stingray
	Dasyatis sabina (Lesueur, 1824)Atlantic stingray
	Dasyatis sayi (Lesueur, 1817)Bluntnose stingray
	Dasyatis sinensis (Steindachner, 1892)Chinese stingray
	Dasyatis thetidis Ogilby, 1899Thorntail stingray
	Dasyatis tortonesei Capapé, 1975Tortonese's stingray
	Dasyatis ushiei (Jordan & Hubbs, 1925)Cow stingray
	Dasyatis zugei (Müller & Henle, 1841)Pale-edged stingray
	Himantura alcocki (Annandale, 1909)Pale-spot whip ray
	Himantura bleekeri (Blyth, 1860)Bleeker's whipray
	Himantura chaophraya Monkolprasit & Roberts, 1990Freshwater whipray
	Himantura draco Compagno & Heemstra, 1984Dragon stingray
	Himantura fai Jordan & Seale, 1906Pink whipray
	Himantura fluviatilis (Hamilton, 1822)Ganges stingray
	Himantura gerrardi (Gray, 1851)Sharpnose stingray
	Himantura granulata (Macleay, 1883)Mangrove whipray
	Himantura imbricata (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)Scaly whipray
	Himantura jenkinsii (Annandale, 1909)Pointed-nose stingray
	Himantura krempfi (Chabanaud, 1923)Marbled freshwater whip ray
	Himantura marginata (Blyth, 1860)Blackedge whipray
	Himantura microphthalma (Chen, 1948)Smalleye whip ray
	Himantura oxyrhyncha (Sauvage, 1878)Marbled whipray
	Himantura pacifica (Beebe & Tee-Van, 1941)Pacific chupare
	Himantura pareh (Bleeker, 1852)
	Himantura pastinacoides (Bleeker, 1852)Round whip ray
	Himantura schmardae (Werner, 1904)Chupare stingray
	Himantura signifer Compagno & Roberts, 1982White-edge freshwater whip ray
	Himantura toshi Whitley, 1939Black-spotted whipray
	Himantura uarnacoides (Bleeker, 1852)Whitenose whip ray
	Himantura uarnak (Forsskål, 1775)Honeycomb stingray
	Himantura undulata (Bleeker, 1852)Leopard whipray
	Himantura walga (Müller & Henle, 1841)Dwarf whipray
	Pastinachus sephen (Forsskål, 1775)Cowtail stingray
	Pteroplatytrygon violacea (Bonaparte, 1832)Pelagic stingray
	Taeniura grabata (Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1817)Round stingray
	Taeniura lymma (Forsskål, 1775)Bluespotted ribbontail / fantail ray
	Taeniura meyeni Müller & Henle, 1841Blotched fantail ray
	Urogymnus asperrimus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)Porcupine ray
	Urogymnus ukpam (Smith, 1863)Thorny freshwater stingray

• Family UROLOPHIDAE - Round stingrays and stingarees

	Trygonoptera mucosa(Whitley, 1939)Western shovelnose stingaree
	Trygonoptera ovalisLast & Gomon, 1987Striped stingaree
	Trygonoptera personataLast & Gomon, 1987Masked stingaree
	Trygonoptera testaceaMüller & Henle, 1841Common stingaree
	Urobatis concentricusOsburn & Nichols, 1916Spot-on-spot round ray / Bullseye Stingray
	Urobatis halleri(Cooper, 1863)Haller's round ray
	Urobatis jamaicensis(Cuvier, 1816)Yellow stingray
	Urobatis maculatusGarman, 1913Cortez round ray
	Urobatis marmoratus(Philippi, 1893)Chilean round stingray
	Urobatis tumbesensis(Chirichigno F. & McEachran, 1979)Tumbes round stingray
	Urolophus armatusMüller & Henle, 1841New Ireland stingaree
	Urolophus aurantiacusMüller & Henle, 1841Sepia stingray
	Urolophus bucculentusMacleay, 1884Sandyback stingaree
	Urolophus circularisMcKay, 1966Circular stingaree
	Urolophus cruciatus(Lacepède, 1804)Crossback stingaree
	Urolophus expansusMcCulloch, 1916Wide stingaree
	Urolophus flavomosaicusLast & Gomon, 1987Patchwork stingaree
	Urolophus gigasScott, 1954Spotted stingaree
	Urolophus javanicus(Martens, 1864)Java stingaree
	Urolophus kaianusGünther, 1880Kai stingaree
	Urolophus kapalae (pending) Kapala stingaree
	Urolophus lobatusMcKay, 1966Lobed stingaree
	Urolophus mitosisLast & Gomon, 1987Mitotic stingaree
	Urolophus orariusLast & Gomon, 1987Coastal stingaree
	Urolophus paucimaculatusDixon, 1969Sparsely-spotted stingaree
	Urolophus sufflavusWhitley, 1929Yellowback stingaree
	Urolophus viridisMcCulloch, 1916Greenback stingaree
	Urolophus westraliensisLast & Gomon, 1987Brown stingaree
	Urotrygon aspidura(Jordan & Gilbert, 1882)Spiny-tail round ray
	Urotrygon chilensis(Günther, 1872)Chilean round ray
	Urotrygon cimarLópez S. & Bussing, 1998
	Urotrygon microphthalmumDelsman, 1941Smalleyed round stingray
	Urotrygon mundaGill, 1863Munda round ray
	Urotrygon nanaMiyake & McEachran, 1988Dwarf round ray
	Urotrygon reticulataMiyake & McEachran, 1988Reticulate round ray
	Urotrygon rogersi(Jordan & Starks, 1895)Roger's round ray
	Urotrygon serrulaHildebrand, 1946Stingray
	Urotrygon simulatrixMiyake & McEachran, 1988Fake round ray
	Urotrygon venezuelaeSchultz, 1949Venezuela round stingray

• Family Plesiobatidae - Deepwater stingrays

Plesiobatis daviesi (Wallace, 1967) Deepwater stingray

• Family Potamotrygonidae - Freshwater/River stingrays

	Paratrygon aiereba(Müller & Henle, 1841)Discus ray
	Plesiotrygon iwamaeRosa, Castello &Thorson, 1987Long-tailed river stingray
	Potamotrygon brachyura(Günther, 1880)Short-tailed river stingray
	Potamotrygon castexi Castello & Yagolkowski, 1969Vermiculate river stingray
	Potamotrygon constellata(Vaillant, 1880)Thorny river stingray
	Potamotrygon falkneriCastex & Maciel, 1963Largespot river stingray
	Potamotrygon henlei(Castelnau, 1855)Bigtooth river stingray
	Potamotrygon histrix(Müller & Henle, 1834)Porcupine river stingray
	Potamotrygon leopoldiCastex & Castello, 1970White-blotched river stingray
	Potamotrygon magdalenae(Valenciennes, 1865)Magdalena river stingray
	Potamotrygon motoro(Müller & Henle, 1841)Ocellate river stingray
	Potamotrygon ocellata(Engelhardt, 1912)Red-blotched river stingray
	Potamotrygon orbignyi(Castelnau, 1855)Smooth back river stingray
	Potamotrygon schroederi Fernández-Yépez, 1957Rosette river stingray
	Potamotrygon schuehmacheriCastex, 1964
	Potamotrygon scobinaGarman, 1913Raspy river stingray
	Potamotrygon signataGarman, 1913Parnaiba river stingray
	Potamotrygon yepeziCastex & Castello, 1970Maracaibo river stingray
	Trygon garrapaSchomburgk, 1843

• Family Gymnuridae - Butterfly rays

	Aetoplatea tentaculataMüller & Henle, 1841Tentacled butterfly ray
	Aetoplatea zonuraBleeker, 1852Zonetail butterfly ray
	Gymnura afuerae(Hildebrand, 1946)
	Gymnura altavela(Linnaeus, 1758)Spiny butterfly ray
	Gymnura australis(Ramsay & Ogilby, 1886)Australian butterfly ray
	Gymnura bimaculata(Norman, 1925)Twin-spot butterfly ray
	Gymnura crebripunctata(Peters, 1869)Longsnout butterfly ray
	Gymnura crookiFowler, 1934
	Gymnura hirundo(Lowe, 1843)Madeira butterfly ray
	Gymnura japonica(Temminck & Schlegel, 1850)Japanese butterflyray
	Gymnura marmorata(Cooper, 1864)California butterfly ray
	Gymnura micrura(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)Smooth butterfly ray
	Gymnura natalensis(Gilchrist & Thompson, 1911)Backwater butterfly ray
	Gymnura poecilura(Shaw, 1804)Longtail butterfly ray

• Family Hexatrygonidae - Sixgill stingrays

	Hexatrygon bickelliHeemstra & Smith, 1980Sixgill stingray
	Hexatrygon longirostra(Chu & Meng, 1981)
	Hexatrygon taiwanensisShen, 1986
	Hexatrygon yangiShen & Liu, 1984

• Family Myliobatidae - Eagle rays

	Aetobatus flagellum(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)Longheaded eagle ray
	Aetobatus guttatus(Shaw, 1804)Sharpwing eagle ray
	Aetobatus narinari(Euphrasen, 1790)Spotted eagle ray
	Aetobatus ocellatus(Kuhl & van Hasselt, 1823)
	Aetomylaeus maculatus(Gray, 1834)Mottled eagle ray
	Aetomylaeus milvus(Müller & Henle, 1841)
	Aetomylaeus nichofii(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)Banded eagle ray
	Aetomylaeus vespertilio(Bleeker, 1852)Ornate eagle ray
	Myliobatis aquila (Linnaeus, 1758)Common eagle ray
	Myliobatis australisMacleay, 1881Australian bull ray
	Myliobatis californicaGill, 1865Bat eagle ray
	Myliobatis chilensisPhilippi, 1893Chilean eagle ray
	Myliobatis freminvilliiLesueur, 1824Bullnose eagle ray
	Myliobatis goodeiGarman, 1885Southern eagle ray
	Myliobatis hamlyniOgilby, 1911Purple eagle ray
	Myliobatis longirostrisApplegate & Fitch, 1964Snouted eagle ray
	Myliobatis peruvianusGarman, 1913Peruvian eagle ray
	Myliobatis tenuicaudatusHector, 1877New Zealand eagle ray
	Myliobatis tobijeiBleeker, 1854Japanese eagle ray
	Pteromylaeus asperrimus(Gilbert, 1898)Rough eagle ray
	Pteromylaeus bovinus(Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1817)Bull ray

• Family Mobulidae - Devil rays

	Manta birostris(Walbaum, 1792)Giant manta
	Manta ehrenbergii(Müller & Henle, 1841)
	Manta rayaBaer, 1899
	Mobula coillotiCadenat & Rancurel, 1960Greater Guinean mobula
	Mobula diabola(Shaw, 1804)Devil ray
	Mobula eregoodootenkeeGarman, 1913Pygmy devilray
	Mobula hypostoma(Bancroft, 1831)Lesser devil ray
	Mobula japanica(Müller & Henle, 1841)Spinetail mobula
	Mobula kuhlii(Müller & Henle, 1841)Shortfin devil ray
	Mobula mobular(Bonnaterre, 1788)Devil fish
	Mobula munkianaNotarbartolo-di-Sciara, 1987Munk's devil ray
	Mobula rancureliCadenat, 1959
	Mobula rochebrunei(Vaillant, 1879)Lesser Guinean devil ray
	Mobula tarapacana(Philippi, 1893)Chilean devil ray
	Mobula thurstoni(Lloyd, 1908)Smooth-tail mobula (Bentfin devil ray)

• Family Rhinopteridae - Cownose rays

	Rhinoptera adspersaMüller & Henle, 1841Rough cownose ray
	Rhinoptera bonasus(Mitchill, 1815)Atlantic Cownose ray
	Rhinoptera brasiliensisMüller, 1836Ticon cownose ray
	Rhinoptera javanicaMüller & Henle, 1841Javanese cownose ray
	Rhinoptera jayakariBoulenger, 1895Oman cownose ray
	Rhinoptera marginata(Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1817)Lusitanian cownose ray
	Rhinoptera neglectaOgilby, 1912Australian cownose ray
	Rhinoptera steindachneriEvermann & Jenkins, 1891Pacific cownose ray

Order RHINOBATIFORMES - Guitarfish   BACK TO TOP

	Family Platyrhinidae - Thornback rays Platyrhina limboonkengi Tang, 1933Amoy fanray  Platyrhina sinensis(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)Fanray  Platyrhinoidis triseriata(Jordan & Gilbert, 1880)Thornback guitarfish
	Family Rhinobatidae - Guitarfishes Aptychotrema bougainvillii(Müller & Henle, 1841)Short-snouted shovelnose ray Aptychotrema rostrata(Shaw & Nodder, 1794)East Australian shovelnose ray Aptychotrema vincentiana(Haacke, 1885)Western shovelnose ray  Rhinobatos albomaculatusNorman, 1930White-spotted guitarfish Rhinobatos annandaleiNorman, 1926Annandale's guitarfish Rhinobatos annulatusMüller & Henle, 1841Lesser sandshark Rhinobatos blochiiMüller & Henle, 1841Bluntnose guitarfish Rhinobatos cemiculusGeoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1817Blackchin guitarfish  Rhinobatos formosensisNorman, 1926Taiwan guitarfish  Rhinobatos glaucostigmaJordan & Gilbert, 1883Speckled guitarfish  Rhinobatos granulatusCuvier, 1829Sharpnose guitarfish  Rhinobatos halavi(Forsskål, 1775)Halavi's guitarfish  Rhinobatos holcorhynchusNorman, 1922Slender guitarfish  Rhinobatos horkeliiMüller & Henle, 1841Brazilian guitarfish  Rhinobatos hynnicephalusRichardson, 1846Angel fish  Rhinobatos irvineiNorman, 1931Spineback guitarfish  Rhinobatos lentiginosusGarman, 1880Atlantic guitarfish  Rhinobatos leucorhynchusGünther, 1867Whitesnout guitarfish  Rhinobatos leucospilusNorman, 1926Grayspottted guitarfish  Rhinobatos lionotusNorman, 1926Smoothback guitarfish  Rhinobatos microphthalmusTeng, 1959Smalleyed guitarfish  Rhinobatos obtususMüller & Henle, 1841Widenose guitarfish  Rhinobatos ocellatusNorman, 1926  Rhinobatos percellens(Walbaum, 1792)Chola guitarfish  Rhinobatos petitiChabanaud, 1929Madagascar guitarfish  Rhinobatos planicepsGarman, 1880Pacific guitarfish  Rhinobatos prahliAcero P. & Franke, 1995Gorgona guitarfish  Rhinobatos productusAyres, 1854Shovelnose guitarfish  Rhinobatos punctiferCompagno & Randall, 1987Spotted guitarfish  Rhinobatos rhinobatos(Linnaeus, 1758)Common guitarfish  Rhinobatos salalahRandall & Compagno, 1995Salalah guitarfish  Rhinobatos schlegeliiMüller & Henle, 1841Yellow guitarfish  Rhinobatos spinosusGünther, 1870Spiny guitarfish  Rhinobatos thouin(Anonymous, 1798)Clubnose guitarfish  Rhinobatos typusBennett, 1830Giant shovelnose ray  Rhinobatos variegatusNair & Lal Mohan, 1973Stripenose guitarfish  Rhinobatos zanzibarensisNorman, 1926Zanzibar guitarfish  Tarsistes philippiiJordan, 1919  Trygonorrhina fasciataMüller & Henle, 1841Southern fiddler  Trygonorrhina melaleucaScott, 1954Magpie fiddler ray  Zanobatus schoenleinii(Müller & Henle, 1841)Striped panray  Zapteryx brevirostris(Müller & Henle, 1841)Lesser guitarfish  Zapteryx exasperata(Jordan & Gilbert, 1880)Banded guitarfish  Zapteryx xysterJordan & Evermann, 1896
	Family Rhynchobatidae - Sharkfin Guitarfishes Rhina ancylostoma (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) Bowmouth Guitarfish Rhynchobatus australiaeWhitley, 1939Whitespotted wedgefish Rhynchobatus djiddensis(Forsskål, 1775)Giant guitarfish  Rhynchobatus laevis(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)Smooth nose wedgefish  Rhynchobatus luebbertiEhrenbaum, 1915African wedgefish

Order PRISTIFORMES - Sawfishes   BACK TO TOP

• Family Pristidae - Sawfishes

	Anoxypristis cuspidata - Knifetooth sawfish, Narrow Sawfish
	Pristis clavata - Dwarf sawfish
	Pristis microdon - Largetooth sawfish, Freshwater Sawfish, Broadbill Sawfish
	Pristis pectinata - Smalltooth sawfish
	Pristis perotteti - Large-tooth sawfish
	Pristis pristis - Common sawfish
	Pristis zijsron - Longcomb sawfish, Green Sawfish

Order RAJIFORMES - Skates   BACK TO TOP

• Family Rajidae - Skates
  • Amblyraja badia(Garman, 1899)Broad skate 
  • Amblyraja doellojuradoi(Pozzi, 1935)Southern thorny skate 
  • Amblyraja frerichsi(Krefft, 1968)Thickbody skate 
  • Amblyraja georgiana(Norman, 1938)Antarctic starry skate 
  • Amblyraja hyperborea(Collett, 1879)Arctic skate 
  • Amblyraja jenseni(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950)Jensen's skate 
  • Amblyraja radiata(Donovan, 1808)Thorny skate 
  • Amblyraja reversa(Lloyd, 1906)Reversed skate 
  • Amblyraja robertsi(Hulley, 1970)Bigmouth skate 
  • Amblyraja taaf(Meissner, 1987)Whiteleg skate 
  • Arhynchobatis asperrimusWaite, 1909Longtail skate 
  • Atlantoraja castelnaui(Miranda-Ribeiro, 1907)Spotback skate 
  • Atlantoraja cyclophora(Regan, 1903)Eyespot skate 
  • Atlantoraja platana(Günther, 1880)La Plata skate 
  • athyraja abyssicola(Gilbert, 1896)Deepsea skate 
  • Bathyraja aguja(Kendall & Radcliffe, 1912)Aguja skate 
  • Bathyraja albomaculata(Norman, 1937)White-dotted skate 
  • Bathyraja aleutica(Gilbert, 1896)Aleutian skate 
  • Bathyraja andriasheviDolganov, 1985Little-eyed skate 
  • Bathyraja bergiDolganov, 1985Bottom skate 
  • Bathyraja brachyurops(Fowler, 1910)Broadnose skate 
  • Bathyraja caeluronigricansIshiyama & Ishihara, 1977Purple-black skate 
  • Bathyraja diplotaenia(Ishiyama, 1952)Dusky-pink skate 
  • Bathyraja eatonii(Günther, 1876)Eaton's skate 
  • Bathyraja fedoroviDolganov, 1985Cinnamon skate 
  • Bathyraja griseocauda(Norman, 1937)Graytail skate 
  • Bathyraja hesperafricanaStehmann, 1995West African skate 
  • Bathyraja hubbsiIshihara & Ishiyama, 1985 
  • Bathyraja interrupta(Gill & Townsend, 1897)Sandpaper skate 
  • Bathyraja irrasaHureau & Ozouf-Costaz, 1980Kerguelen sandpaper skate 
  • Bathyraja isotrachys(Günther, 1877)Raspback skate 
  • Bathyraja lindbergiIshiyama & Ishihara, 1977Commander skate 
  • Bathyraja longicauda(de Buen, 1959)Slimtail skate 
  • Bathyraja maccainiSpringer, 1971McCain's skate 
  • Bathyraja macloviana(Norman, 1937)Patagonian skate 
  • Bathyraja maculataIshiyama & Ishihara, 1977White-blotched skate 
  • Bathyraja magellanica(Philippi, 1902)Magellan skate 
  • Bathyraja matsubarai(Ishiyama, 1952)Dusky-purple skate 
  • Bathyraja meridionalisStehmann, 1987Dark-belly skate 
  • Bathyraja minispinosaIshiyama & Ishihara, 1977Smallthorn skate 
  • Bathyraja multispinis(Norman, 1937)Multispine skate 
  • Bathyraja murrayi(Günther, 1880)Murray's skate 
  • Bathyraja notoroensisIshiyama & Ishihara, 1977Notoro skate 
  • Bathyraja pallida(Forster, 1967)Pale ray 
  • Bathyraja papilioniferaStehmann, 1985Butterfly skate 
  • Bathyraja parmifera(Bean, 1881)Alaska skate 
  • Bathyraja peruanaMcEachran & Miyake, 1984Peruvian skate 
  • Bathyraja pseudoisotrachysIshihara & Ishiyama, 1985 
  • Bathyraja richardsoni(Garrick, 1961)Richardson's ray 
  • Bathyraja scaphiops(Norman, 1937)Cuphead skate 
  • Bathyraja schroederi(Krefft, 1968)Whitemouth skate 
  • Bathyraja shuntoviDolganov, 1985Narrownose skate 
  • Bathyraja simoterusIshiyama, 1967Hokkaido skate 
  • Bathyraja smirnovi(Soldatov & Pavlenko, 1915)Golden skate 
  • Bathyraja smithii(Müller & Henle, 1841)African softnose skate 
  • Bathyraja spinicauda(Jensen, 1914)Spinetail ray 
  • Bathyraja spinosissima(Beebe & Tee-Van, 1941)White skate 
  • Bathyraja trachouros(Ishiyama, 1958)Eremo skate 
  • Bathyraja trachura(Gilbert, 1892)Roughtail skate 
  • Bathyraja tzinovskiiDolganov, 1985Creamback skate 
  • Bathyraja violacea(Suvorov, 1935)Okhotsk skate 
  • Breviraja claramaculataMcEachran & Matheson, 1985Brightspot skate 
  • Breviraja colesiBigelow & Schroeder, 1948Lightnose skate 
  • Breviraja markleiMcEachran & Miyake, 1987Nova Scotia skate 
  • Breviraja mouldiMcEachran & Matheson, 1995Blacknose skate 
  • Breviraja nigriventralisMcEachran & Matheson, 1985Blackbelly skate 
  • Breviraja spinosaBigelow & Schroeder, 1950Spinose skate 
  • Cruriraja andamanica(Lloyd, 1909)Andaman leg skate 
  • Cruriraja atlantisBigelow & Schroeder, 1948Atlantic leg skate 
  • Cruriraja cadenatiBigelow & Schroeder, 1962Broadfoot leg skate 
  • Cruriraja durbanensis(von Bonde & Swart, 1923)Smooth nose leg skate 
  • Cruriraja parcomaculata(von Bonde & Swart, 1923)Roughnose legskate 
  • Cruriraja poeyiBigelow & Schroeder, 1948Cuban leg skate 
  • Cruriraja rugosaBigelow & Schroeder, 1958Rough leg skate 
  • Cruriraja triangularisSmith, 1964Triangular legskate 
  • Dactylobatus armatusBean & Weed, 1909Skilletskate 
  • Dactylobatus clarkii(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1958)Hookskate 
  • Dipturus batis(Linnaeus, 1758)Blue skate 
  • Dipturus bullisi(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1962)Bullis skate 
  • Dipturus campbelli(Wallace, 1967)Blackspot skate 
  • Dipturus chilensis(Guichenot, 1848)Yellownose skate 
  • Dipturus crosnieri(Séret, 1989)Madagascar skate 
  • Dipturus doutrei(Cadenat, 1960)Violet skate 
  • Dipturus ecuadoriensis(Beebe & Tee-Van, 1941)Ecuador skate 
  • Dipturus garricki(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1958)San Blas skate 
  • Dipturus gigas(Ishiyama, 1958)Giant skate 
  • Dipturus gudgeri(Whitley, 1940)Bight skate 
  • Dipturus innominatus(Garrick & Paul, 1974)New Zealand smooth skate 
  • Dipturus johannisdavisi(Alcock, 1899)Travancore skate 
  • Dipturus kwangtungensis(Chu, 1960)Kwangtung skate 
  • Dipturus laevis(Mitchill, 1818)Barndoor skate 
  • Dipturus lanceorostratus(Wallace, 1967)Rattail skate 
  • Dipturus leptocaudus(Krefft & Stehmann, 1975)Thintail skate 
  • Dipturus linteus(Fries, 1838)Sailray 
  • Dipturus macrocaudus(Ishiyama, 1955)Bigtail skate 
  • Dipturus menniiGomes & Paragó, 2001 
  • Dipturus nasutus(Müller & Henle, 1841)New Zealand rough skate 
  • Dipturus nidarosiensis(Storm, 1881)Norwegian skate 
  • Dipturus olseni(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951)Spreadfin skate 
  • Dipturus oregoni(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1958)Hooktail skate 
  • Dipturus oxyrinchus(Linnaeus, 1758)Longnosed skate 
  • Dipturus pullopunctatus(Smith, 1964)Slime skate 
  • Dipturus springeri(Wallace, 1967)Roughbelly skate 
  • Dipturus stenorhynchus(Wallace, 1967)Prow-nose skate 
  • Dipturus teevani(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951)Prickly brown ray 
  • Dipturus tengu(Jordan & Fowler, 1903)Acutenose skate 
  • Dipturus trachydermus(Krefft & Stehmann, 1975) 
  • Fenestraja atripinna(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950)Blackfin pygmy skate 
  • Fenestraja cubensis(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950)Cuban pygmy skate 
  • Fenestraja ishiyamai(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1962)Plain pygmy skate 
  • Fenestraja maceachrani(Séret, 1989)Madagascar pygmy skate 
  • Fenestraja mamillidens(Alcock, 1889)Prickly skate 
  • Fenestraja plutonia(Garman, 1881)Pluto skate 
  • Fenestraja sibogae(Weber, 1913)Siboga skate 
  • Fenestraja sinusmexicanus(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950)Gulf of Mexico pygmy skate 
  • Gurgesiella atlantica(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1962)Atlantic pygmy skate 
  • Gurgesiella dorsaliferaMcEachran & Compagno, 1980Onefin skate 
  • Gurgesiella furvescensde Buen, 1959Dusky finless skate 
  • Irolita waitii(McCulloch, 1911)Southern round skate 
  • Leucoraja circularis(Couch, 1838)Sandy ray 
  • Leucoraja compagnoi(Stehmann, 1995)Tigertail skate 
  • Leucoraja erinacea (Mitchill, 1825)Little skate 
  • Leucoraja fullonica(Linnaeus, 1758)Shagreen ray 
  • Leucoraja garmani(Whitley, 1939)Freckled skate 
  • Leucoraja lentiginosa(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1951)Speckled skate 
  • Leucoraja leucosticta(Stehmann, 1971)Whitedappled skate 
  • Leucoraja melitensis(Clark, 1926)Maltese ray 
  • Leucoraja naevus(Müller & Henle, 1841)Cuckoo ray 
  • Leucoraja occelata(Mitchill, 1815)Winter skate 
  • Leucoraja wallacei(Hulley, 1970)Yellow spotted skate 
  • Leucoraja yucatanensis(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950)Yucatan skate 
  • Malacoraja kreffti(Stehmann, 1977)Krefft's ray 
  • Malacoraja senta(Garman, 1885)Smooth skate 
  • Malacoraja spinacidermis(Barnard, 1923)Roughskin skate 
  • Neoraja africana(Stehmann & Seret, 1983)West African pygmy skate 
  • Neoraja caerulea(Stehmann, 1976)Blue ray 
  • Neoraja carolinensisMcEachran & Stehmann, 1984Carolina pygmy skate 
  • Neoraja stehmanni(Hulley, 1972)African pygmy skate 
  • Notoraja asperula(Garrick & Paul, 1974)Prickly deepsea skate 
  • Notoraja laxipella(Yearsley & Last, 1992)Eastern looseskin skate 
  • Notoraja ochrodermaMcEachran & Last, 1994Pale skate 
  • Notoraja spinifera(Garrick & Paul, 1974)Spiny deepsea skate 
  • Notoraja subtilispinosaStehmann, 1989Velvet skate 
  • Notoraja tobitukai(Hiyama, 1940)Leadhued skate 
  • Okamejei acutispina(Ishiyama, 1958)Sharpspine skate 
  • Okamejei australis(Macleay, 1884)Sydney skate 
  • Okamejei boesemani(Ishihara, 1987)Boeseman's skate 
  • Okamejei cerva(Whitley, 1939)White-spotted skate 
  • Okamejei heemstrai(McEachran & Fechhelm, 1982)East African skate 
  • Okamejei hollandi(Jordan & Richardson, 1909)Yellow-spotted skate 
  • Okamejei kenojei(Müller & Henle, 1841)Ocellate spot skate 
  • Okamejei lemprieri(Richardson, 1845)Australian thornback skate 
  • Okamejei meerdervoortii(Bleeker, 1860)Bigeye skate 
  • Okamejei pita(Fricke & Al-Hassan, 1995)Pita skate 
  • Okamejei powelli(Alcock, 1898)Indian ringed skate 
  • Okamejei schmidti(Ishiyama, 1958)Browneye skate 
  • Pavoraja alleniMcEachran & Fechhelm, 1982Allens skate 
  • Pavoraja nitida(Günther, 1880)Peacock skate 
  • Psammobatis bergiMarini, 1932Blotched sand skate 
  • Psammobatis extenta(Garman, 1913)Zipper sand skate 
  • Psammobatis lentiginosaMcEachran, 1983Freckled sand skate 
  • Psammobatis normaniMcEachran, 1983Shortfin sand skate 
  • Psammobatis parvacaudaMcEachran, 1983Smalltail sand skate 
  • Psammobatis rudisGünther, 1870Smallthorn sand skate 
  • Psammobatis rutrumJordan, 1891Spade sand skate 
  • Psammobatis scobina(Philippi, 1857)Raspthorn sand skate 
  • Pseudoraja fischeriBigelow & Schroeder, 1954Fanfin skate 
  • Raja ackleyiGarman, 1881Ocellate skate 
  • Raja africanaCapapé, 1977African ray 
  • Raja asteriasDelaroche, 1809Starry ray 
  • Raja bahamensisBigelow & Schroeder, 1965Bahama skate 
  • Raja binoculataGirard, 1855Big skate 
  • Raja brachyuraLafont, 1873Blonde ray 
  • Raja cervigoniBigelow & Schroeder, 1964Finspot ray 
  • Raja clavataLinnaeus, 1758Thornback ray 
  • Raja cortezensisMcEachran & Miyake, 1988Cortez' ray 
  • Raja eglanteriaBosc, 1800Clearnose skate 
  • Raja equatorialisJordan & Bollman, 1890Ecuatorial ray 
  • Raja flavirostrisPhilippi, 1893 
  • Raja herwigiKrefft, 1965Cape Verde skate 
  • Raja inornataJordan & Gilbert, 1881California ray 
  • Raja koreanaJeong & Nakabo, 1997Korean skate 
  • Raja maderensisLowe, 1838Madeiran ray 
  • Raja microocellataMontagu, 1818Small-eyed ray 
  • Raja miraletusLinnaeus, 1758Brown ray 
  • Raja montaguiFowler, 1910Spotted ray 
  • Raja polyommataOgilby, 1910Argus skate 
  • Raja polystigmaRegan, 1923Speckled ray 
  • Raja pulchraLiu, 1932Mottled skate 
  • Raja radulaDelaroche, 1809Rough ray 
  • Raja rhinaJordan & Gilbert, 1880Longnose skate 
  • Raja rondeletiBougis, 1959Rondelet's ray 
  • Raja rouxiCapapé, 1977 
  • Raja stellulataJordan & Gilbert, 1880Starry skate 
  • Raja straeleniPoll, 1951Biscuit skate 
  • Raja texanaChandler, 1921Roundel skate 
  • Raja undulataLacepède, 1802Undulate ray 
  • Raja veleziChirichigno F., 1973Velez ray 
  • Raja whitleyiIredale, 1938Wedgenose skate 
  • Rajella annandalei(Weber, 1913)Annandale's skate 
  • Rajella barnardi(Norman, 1935)Bigthorn skate 
  • Rajella bathyphila(Holt & Byrne, 1908)Deepwater ray 
  • Rajella bigelowi(Stehmann, 1978)Bigelow's ray 
  • Rajella caudaspinosa(von Bonde & Swart, 1923)Munchkin skate 
  • Rajella dissimilis(Hulley, 1970)Ghost skate 
  • Rajella eisenhardtiLong & McCosker, 1999 
  • Rajella fuliginea(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1954)Sooty skate 
  • Rajella fyllae(Lütken, 1887)Round ray 
  • Rajella kukujevi(Dolganov, 1985)Mid-Atlantic skate 
  • Rajella leopardus(von Bonde & Swart, 1923)Leopard skate 
  • Rajella nigerrima(de Buen, 1960)Blackish skate 
  • Rajella purpuriventralis(Bigelow & Schroeder, 1962)Purplebelly skate 
  • Rajella ravidula(Hulley, 1970)Smoothback skate 
  • Rajella sadowskii(Krefft & Stehmann, 1974)Brazilian skate 
  • Rhinoraja kujiensis(Tanaka, 1916)Dapple-bellied softnose skate
  • Rhinoraja longiRaschi & McEachran, 1991Aleutian dotted skate 
  • Rhinoraja longicaudaIshiyama, 1952White-bellied softnose skate 
  • Rhinoraja obtusa(Gill & Townsend, 1897)Blunt skate 
  • Rhinoraja odaiIshiyama, 1958Oda's skate 
  • Rhinoraja taranetziDolganov, 1985Mud skate 
  • Rioraja agassizii(Müller & Henle, 1841)Rio skate 
  • Rostroraja alba(Lacepède, 1803)Bottlenosed skate 
  • Sympterygia acutaGarman, 1877Bignose fanskate 
  • Sympterygia bonapartiiMüller & Henle, 1841Smallnose fanskate 
  • Sympterygia brevicaudata(Cope, 1877)Shorttail fanskate 
  • Sympterygia lima(Poeppig, 1835)Filetail fanskate 
    

SUBCLASS HOLOCEPHALI - CHIMAERAS

Order CHIMAERIFORMES - Chimaeras   BACK TO TOP

Family Callorhinchidae (plownose chimaeras) Callorhinchus Callorhinchus callorynchus (elephantfish) Callorhinchus carpensis (elephantfish) Callorhinchus milii (elephantfish) Occurs on continental shelves of cool temperate areas of Australia and New Zealand to depths of at least 200 m. Migrates into large estuaries and inshore bays in spring to breed.

Family Chimaeridae (shortnose chimaeras) Chimaera Chimaera jordani (Jordan-ginzame) Chimaera monstrosa (rabbit fish) Atlantic. Upper continental slopes, 40 to 100m. Chimaera owstoni (shirobuchi-ginzame) Chimaera phantasma (silver chimaera) Continental shelves and upper slopes.   Hydrolagus Hydrolagus affinis (Smalleyed rabbitfish, Atlantic Chimaera) Eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean. Continental slopes to deep-sea plains. Hydrolagus africanus (African chimaera) Hydrolagus alberti  Hydrolagus barbouri (ninespot chimaera) Hydrolagus colliei (spotted ratfish)Found close inshore, near the bottom. Abundant in cold waters at moderate depths. Feeds on clams, crustaceans, and fishes. The spine can be dangerous and cause a painful wound.  Hydrolagus deani (Philippine chimaera) Known from upper slopes at 469m Hydrolagus eidolon (Niji-ginzame) Hydrolagus lemures (Blackfin ghostshark) Common and wide-ranging chimaera of the Australian outer continental shelf and upper slopes. Hydrolagus mirabilis (large-eyed rabbitfish) Moderately common on continental slopes. Feeds on small fishes and invertebrates. Oviparous Hydrolagus mitsukurii (aka-ginzame) Hydrolagus novaezealandiae (Dark ghostfish) Inhabits deep waters.   Hydrolagus purpurescens (Purple chimaera)

Family Rhinochimaeridae (longnose chimaeras) Rhinochimaera Harriotta haeckeli (Smallspine spookfish) North Atlantic, taken in 1800-2600 m; specimens collected by Russian vessels from submarine seamounts of the Indian Ocean in 1400-1730 m; off St. Helens (Tasmania) in 1480-1700 m. Harriotta raleighana (bentnose rabbitfish) Appears to feed mainly on shellfish and crustaceans that live on the bottom of the continental slope. Oviparous. Neoharriotta pinnata Rhinochimaera atlantica (Knifenose chimaera) Found on lower parts of the continental slopes Rhinochimaera pacifica (Pacific spookfish) Occurs on the continental slope.

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