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How are sharks, skates, and rays classified within Elasmobranchii?
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chondrichthyan
Southern stingrays (Dasyatis americana or Hypanus americanus) are found in the western Atlantic Ocean.
Within the class Chondrichthyes (cartilaginous fishes), sharks, skates, and rays are grouped together into the subclass Elasmobranchii.21
These fishes are further organized into various taxonomic orders based on their anatomical characteristics. Modern elasmobranchs are distinguished by features such as a hyostylic jaw, which allows for greater mobility during predation. While they share a common skeletal structure composed of cartilage, they are categorized into distinct groups, including:234
- Ground sharks (order Carcharhiniformes) and mackerel sharks (order Lamniformes)23
- Skates and rays (order Rajiformes), as well as other specialized groups like electric rays (order Torpediniformes) and sting rays (order Myliobatiformes)23
- Other shark orders, such as angel sharks (Squatiniformes), bullhead sharks (Heterodontiformes), and saw sharks (Pristiophoriformes)2
Taxonomic classification within this subclass remains a complex and evolving field, as ichthyologists continue to refine the relationships between these species based on ongoing anatomical research and fossil evidence.15