Sharks

Sharks and rays do not fall into the category of 'Bony Fishes' which makes up the majority of this Fish Library. They belong to the "Class Chondrichthyes" that includes nonbony fishes. Sharks and rays both fall into the "Subclass Elasmobranchii" which includes jawed fishes with cartilaginous skeletons, multiple gill slits, skin covered with tiny tooth-like scales, and rows of regenerating teeth.

Most sharks are too large for the average aquarium, with the largest member, the whale shark (Rhiniodon typus ) attaining almost 60 feet. They have streamlined bodies and lack air bladders. Instead, they have a large two-lobed liver that helps maintain neutral buoyancy. Besides having a keen sense of smell and eyesight, sharks have renewable teeth, which many of us, including myself, would like to have! As teeth are worn-out or lost, new teeth from a back row move up to takes its place. They are also very sensitive to electrical impulses, as they can easily locate buried prey. However, this sensitivity can lead to their loss in the aquarium if equipped with a faulty heater, UV filter, or water pump.

They mostly require a large, well-filtered and well-oxygenated system with a fine grain sandbed, and few environment obstructions even for the smallest members. Most succumb to poor husbandry skills. They cannot be treated with heavy metal solutions such as copper. Fresh seafood, such as shrimp, fish flesh, crab, scallops and freshwater mollies are welcomed. Do not house with large triggerfishes, angelfishes, wrasses, and pufferfishes as they can pick on the shark and cause skin/eye damage. For much more in-depth information on these creatures I suggest reading "Aquarium Sharks & Rays, An Essential Guide to Their Selection, Keeping, and Natural History" by Scott Michael, ISBN #1-890087-57-2. Only those of general interest are mentioned below.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Chondrichthyes

Subclass: Elasmobranchii

Order: Carcharhiniformes (Ground Sharks)
Family Carcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks)
Genera Carcharhinus; Galeocerdo; Glyphis; Isogomphodon; Lamiopsis; Loxodon; Nasolamia; Negaprion (Lemon Sharks); Prionace; Rhizoprionodon (Sharpnose Sharks); Scoliodon; and, Triaenodon
Family Hemigaleidae (Weasel Sharks)
Genera Chaenogaleus; Hemigaleus; Hemipristis; and, Paragaleus
Family Leptochariidae Genus Leptocharias
Family Proscylliidae (Finback Catsharks)
Genera Ctenacis; Eridacnis; and, Proscyllium
Family Pseudotriakidae (False Catsharks)
Genus Pseudotriakis
Family Scyliorhinidae (Catsharks)
Genera Apristurus; Asymbolus; Atelomycterus; Aulohalaelurus; Cephaloscyllium; Cephalurus; Galeus; Halaelurus; Haploblepharus; Holohalaelurus; Parmaturus; Pentanchus; Porodema; Schroederichthys; and, Scyliorhinus
Family Shhyrnidae (Bonnethead, Hammerhead, and Scoophead Sharks)
Genera Eusphyra and Sphyma
Family Triakidae
Sub-Family Galeorhininae
Genera Furgaleus; Galeorhinus; Gogolia; Gollum; Hemitriakis; Hypogaleus; and, Iago
Sub-Family Triakinae
Genera Mustelus; Scylliogaleus; and, Triakis


Order: Heterodontiformes (Horn/Bulhead Sharks)
Family Heterodontidae
Genus Heterodontus


Order: Hexanchiformes (Six-gilled Sharks) Family Chlamydoselachidae (Frilled Sharks)
Genera Chlamydoselachus and Heptranchias
Family Hexanchidae
Genera Hexanchus and Notorynchus


Order: Orectolobiformes (Carpet Sharks)
Family Brachaeluridae (Blind Sharks)
Genera Brachaelurus and Heteroscyllium
Family Ginglymostomatidae (Nurse Sharks)
Genera Ginglymostoma; Nebrius; and, Pseudoginglymostoma
Family Hemiscylliidae (Bamboo Sharks)
Genera Chilioscyllium and Hemiscyllium
Family Orectolobidae (Wobbegones)
Genera Orectolobus and Sutorectus
Family Parascyliidae (Collared Carpet Sharks)
Genera Cirrhoscyllium and Parascyllium
Family Rhincodontidae (Whale Sharks)
Genus Rhincodon
Family Stegostomatidae (Zebra Sharks)
Genus Stegostoma


Order: Lamniformes (Mackerel Sharks) Family Aloplidae (Thresher Sharks)
Genus Alopias
Family Cetorhinidae (Basking Sharks)
Genus Cetorhinus
Family Lamnidae
Genera Carcharodon; Isurus; and, Lamna
Family Megachasmidae (Megamouth Sharks)
Genus Megachasma
Family Mitsukurinidae (Goblin Sharks)
Genus Mitsukurina
Family Odontaspididae (Sand and Sand Tiger Sharks)
Genera Carcharias and Odontaspis
Family Pseudocarcharlidae (Crocodile Sharks)
Genus Pseudocarcharias


Order: Pristiophoriformes (Saw Sharks)
Family Pristiophoridae
Genera Pliotrema and Pristiophorus


Order: Squaliformes (Spiny Sharks, Dogfish)
Family Squatinidae
Genus Squatina


Order: Squatiniformes (Angel Sharks)
Family Centrophoridae
Genus Deania
Family Dalatiidae (Sleeper Sharks)
Sub-Family Dalatinae
Genera Centrophorus; Dalatias; Euprotomicroides; Euprotomicrus; Heteroscymnoides; Isistius; Mollisquama; Squaliolus
Sub-Family Etmopterinae
Genera Aculeola; Centroscyllium; Etmopterus; Miroscyllium; and, Trigonognathus
Sub-Family Oxynotinae
Genus Oxynotus
Sub-Family Somniosinae
Genera Centroscymnus and Somniosus
Family Echinorhinidae (Bramble Sharks)
Genus Echinorhinus
Family Squalidae (Dogfish Sharks)
Genera Cirrhigaleus; Scymnodalatias; Scymnodon; and, Squalus

Genus Carcharhinus