Not just Shark Pictures: Elasmodiver contains photos of sharks, skates, rays, and chimaera's from around the world. Elasmodiver began as a simple web based shark field guide to help divers find the best places to encounter the different species of sharks and rays that live in shallow water but it has slowly evolved into a much larger project containing information on all aspects of shark diving and shark photography.

There are now more than 5000 shark pictures and sections on shark evolution, biology, and conservation. There is a large library of reviewed shark books, a constantly updated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark links, and deeper in the site there are numerous articles and stories about shark encounters. Elasmodiver is now so difficult to check for updates, that new information and pictures are listed on an Elasmodiver Updates Page that can be accessed here:

WHAT'S NEW?

Shark picture - green sawfish

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 elasmobranchs. 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 of cartilaginous fishes that thrived during the Late Devonian Period.

Shark Family Tree

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).

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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.

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

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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.

SHARK ORDERS (SELACHE)

HEXANCHIFORMES - Sixgill, Sevengill and Frilled Sharks

SQUALIFORMES - Dogfish Sharks, sleeper sharks, gulper sharks and lantern sharks

PRISTIOPHORIFORMES - Sawsharks

SQUATINIFORMES - Angelsharks

HETERODONTIFORMES - Bullhead Sharks

ORECTOLOBIFORMES - Carpetsharks

LAMNIFORMES - Mackerel Sharks

CARCHARHINIFORMES - Ground Sharks

RAY ORDERS

TORPEDINIFORMES - Electric rays

MYLIOBATIFORMES - Stingrays, Eagle rays, Butterfly rays, Devil rays, Cownose rays

PRISTIFORMES - Sawfishes

RHINOBATIFORMES - Guitarfishes

RAJIFORMES - Skates

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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.

CHIMAERA ORDERS

CHIMAERIFORMES - Chimaeras

Order HEXANCHIFORMES - Sixgill, Sevengill and Frilled Sharks TOP

Family CHLAMYDOSELA - Frilled Sharks

Chlamydoselachus anguineus - Frilled shark

Family HEXANCHIDAE - Sixgill and Sevengill SharksFour Species

Heptranchias perlo - Sharpnose sevengill shark

Hexanchus griseus - Bluntnose sixgill shark

Hexanchus nakamurai - Bigeye sixgill shark

Notorynchus cepedianus - Broadnose or spotted sevengill shark

Order SQUALIFORMES - Dogfish Sharks BACK TO TOP

Family CENTROPHORIDAE - Gulper Sharks

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

Deania calcea - Birdbeak dogfish

Deania hystricosum - Rough longnose dogfish

Deania profundorum - Arrowhead dogfish

Deania quadrispinosum - Longsnout dogfish

Family DALATIIDAE - Kitefin Sharks

Dalatias licha - Kitefin shark

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

Squaliolus laticaudus - Spined pygmy shark

Family ECHINORHINIDAE - Bramble Sharks

Echinorhinus brucus - Bramble shark

Echinorhinus cookei - Prickly shark

Family ETMOPTERIDAE - Lantern Sharks

Aculeola nigra - Hooktooth dogfish

Centroscyllium fabricii - Black dogfish

Centroscyllium granulatum - Granular dogfish

Centroscyllium kamoharai - Bareskin dogfish

Centroscyllium nigrum - Combtooth dogfish

Centroscyllium ornatum - Ornate dogfish

Centroscyllium ritteri - Whitefin 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

Family SOMNIOSIDAE - Sleeper Sharks

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

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

Family SQUALIDAE - Dogfish sharks

Cirrhigaleus barbifer - Mandarin dogfish

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

Squalus suckleyi - Spotted spiny dogfish

Family OXYNOTIDAE - Roughsharks

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

Pristiophorus nancyae - African dwarf sawshark

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
Squatina aculeata - Sawback angelshark

Squatina albipunctata - Eastern Australian angelshark

Squatina africana - African angelshark

Squatina argentina - Argentine angelshark

Squatina australis - Australian angelshark

Squatina californica - Pacific angelshark

Squatina caillieti - Philippine 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

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

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

Brachaelurus waddi - Blind shark

Heteroscyllium colcloughi - Bluegrey carpetshark

Family ORECTOLOBIDAE - Wobbegongs

Eucrossorhinus dasypogon - Tasselled wobbegong

Orectolobus floridus - Floral wobbegong

Orectolobus halei - Banded wobbegong

Orectolobus hutchinsi - Western wobbegong

Orectolobus japonicus - Japanese wobbegong

Orectolobus leptolineatus - Indonesian wobbegong

Orectolobus maculatus - Spotted wobbegong

Orectolobus ornatus - Dwarf ornate wobbegong

Orectolobus parvimaculatus - Dwarf spotted wobbegong

Orectolobus reticulatus - Northern Wobbegong

Orectolobus wardi - Wards wobbegong

Sutorectus tentaculatus - Cobbler wobbegong

Family HEMISCYLLIDAE - Longtailed Carpetshark

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

Ginglymostoma brevicaudatum - Shorttail nurse shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum - Nurse shark

Nebrius ferrugineus - Tawny nurse shark or giant sleepy shark

Family STEGOSTOMATIDAE - Zebra Sharks

Stegostoma fasciatum - Zebra shark

Family RHINCODONTIDAE - Whale Sharks

Rhincodon typus - Whale shark

Order LAMNIFORMES - Mackerel Sharks BACK TO TOP

Family ODONTASPIDIDAE - Sand Tiger Sharks

Carcharias taurus - Sand tiger, spotted raggedtooth, or grey nurse shark

Odontaspis ferox - Smalltooth sand tiger or bumpytail raggedtooth

Odontaspis noronhai - Bigeye sand tiger

Family PSEUDOCARCHARIDAE - Crocodile Sharks

Pseudocarcharias kamoharai - Crocodile shark

Family MITSUKURINIDAE - Goblin Sharks

Mitsukurina owstoni - Goblin shark

Family MEGACHASMIDAE - Megamouth Sharks

Megachasma pelagios - Megamouth Shark

Family ALOPIIDAE - Thresher Sharks

Alopias pelagicus - Pelagic thresher

Alopias superciliosus - Bigeye thresher

Alopias vulpinus - Thresher shark

Family CETORHINIDAE - Basking Sharks

Cetorhinus maximus - Basking shark

Family LAMNIDAE - Mackerel Sharks

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

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

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

Pseudotriakis microdon - False catshark

Family LEPTOCHARIIDAE - Barbeled Houndshark

Leptocharias smithii - Barbeled houndshark

Family TRIAKIDAE - Houndsharks

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 albipinnis - Whitemargin Smoothhound (aka M.hacat)

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

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

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 cerdale - Pacific smalltail 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

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 - Apron Ray (Found on both coasts of southern South America).

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 colarensis (Santos, 2004) Colares 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 hastata (Dekay, 1842)

Dasyatis hypostigma (Santos & Carvalho, 2004) Groovebelly 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 marmorata (Steindachner 1892) Marbled stingray

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 parvonigra (Last & White, 2008) Dwarf black 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 ukpam (Smith, 1863) Thorny freshwater 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 randalli (Last 2012) Randall's Whipray.

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 - Indo-Pacific round stingrays (stingarees)

Trygonoptera mucosa(Whitley, 1939)Western shovelnose stingaree

Trygonoptera ovalisLast & Gomon, 1987Striped stingaree

Trygonoptera personataLast & Gomon, 1987Masked stingaree

Trygonoptera testaceaMüller & Henle, 1841Common stingaree

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

Family UROTRYGONIDAE - Pan-American round stingrays

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

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)

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 asperrimus Waite, 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 andriashevi Dolganov, 1985Little-eyed skate

Bathyraja bergi Dolganov, 1985Bottom skate

Bathyraja brachyurops (Fowler, 1910)Broadnose skate

Bathyraja caeluronigricans Ishiyama & Ishihara, 1977Purple-black skate

Bathyraja diplotaenia (Ishiyama, 1952)Dusky-pink skate

Bathyraja eatonii (Günther, 1876)Eaton's skate

Bathyraja fedorovi Dolganov, 1985Cinnamon skate

Bathyraja griseocauda (Norman, 1937)Graytail skate

Bathyraja hesperafricana Stehmann, 1995West African skate

Bathyraja hubbsi Ishihara & Ishiyama, 1985

Bathyraja interrupta (Gill & Townsend, 1897)Sandpaper skate

Bathyraja irrasa Hureau & Ozouf-Costaz, 1980Kerguelen sandpaper skate

Bathyraja isotrachys (Günther, 1877)Raspback skate

Bathyraja leucomelanos (Samuel Paco Iglésias) New Caledonia Skate?

Bathyraja lindbergi Ishiyama & Ishihara, 1977Commander skate

Bathyraja longicauda (de Buen, 1959)Slimtail skate

Bathyraja maccaini Springer, 1971McCain's skate

Bathyraja macloviana (Norman, 1937)Patagonian skate

Bathyraja maculata Ishiyama & Ishihara, 1977White-blotched skate

Bathyraja magellanica (Philippi, 1902)Magellan skate

Bathyraja matsubarai (Ishiyama, 1952)Dusky-purple skate

Bathyraja meridionalis Stehmann, 1987Dark-belly skate

Bathyraja minispinosa Ishiyama & Ishihara, 1977Smallthorn skate

Bathyraja multispinis (Norman, 1937)Multispine skate

Bathyraja murrayi (Günther, 1880)Murray's skate

Bathyraja notoroensis Ishiyama & Ishihara, 1977Notoro skate

Bathyraja pallida (Forster, 1967)Pale ray

Bathyraja papilionifera Stehmann, 1985Butterfly skate

Bathyraja parmifera (Bean, 1881)Alaska skate

Bathyraja peruana McEachran & Miyake, 1984Peruvian skate

Bathyraja pseudoisotrachys Ishihara & Ishiyama, 1985

Bathyraja richardsoni (Garrick, 1961)Richardson's ray

Bathyraja scaphiops (Norman, 1937)Cuphead skate

Bathyraja schroederi (Krefft, 1968)Whitemouth skate

Bathyraja shuntovi Dolganov, 1985Narrownose skate

Bathyraja simoterus Ishiyama, 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 tzinovskii Dolganov, 1985Creamback skate

Bathyraja violacea (Suvorov, 1935)Okhotsk skate

Breviraja claramaculata McEachran & Matheson, 1985Brightspot skate

Breviraja colesi Bigelow & Schroeder, 1948Lightnose skate

Breviraja marklei McEachran & Miyake, 1987Nova Scotia skate

Breviraja mouldi McEachran & Matheson, 1995Blacknose skate

Breviraja nigriventralis McEachran & Matheson, 1985Blackbelly skate

Breviraja spinosa Bigelow & Schroeder, 1950Spinose skate

Cruriraja andamanica (Lloyd, 1909)Andaman leg skate

Cruriraja atlantis Bigelow & Schroeder, 1948Atlantic leg skate

Cruriraja cadenati Bigelow & Schroeder, 1962Broadfoot leg skate

Cruriraja durbanensis (von Bonde & Swart, 1923)Smooth nose leg skate

Cruriraja parcomaculata (von Bonde & Swart, 1923)Roughnose legskate

Cruriraja poeyi Bigelow & Schroeder, 1948Cuban leg skate

Cruriraja rugosa Bigelow & Schroeder, 1958Rough leg skate

Cruriraja triangularis Smith, 1964Triangular legskate

Dactylobatus armatus Bean & 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 mennii Gomes & 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 dorsalifera McEachran & 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 carolinensis McEachran & Stehmann, 1984Carolina pygmy skate

Neoraja stehmanni (Hulley, 1972)African pygmy skate

Notoraja alisae (Bernard Séret and Peter R. Last 2012)

Notoraja asperula (Garrick & Paul, 1974)Prickly deepsea skate

Notoraja fijiensis (Bernard Séret and Peter R. Last 2012)

Notoraja inusitata (Bernard Séret and Peter R. Last 2012)

Notoraja laxipella (Yearsley & Last, 1992)Eastern looseskin skate

Notoraja longiventralis (Bernard Séret and Peter R. Last 2012)

Notoraja ochroderma McEachran & Last, 1994Pale skate

Notoraja spinifera (Garrick & Paul, 1974)Spiny deepsea skate

Notoraja subtilispinosa Stehmann, 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 alleni McEachran & Fechhelm, 1982Allens skate

Pavoraja nitida (Günther, 1880)Peacock skate

Psammobatis bergiMarini, 1932Blotched sand skate

Psammobatis extenta (Garman, 1913)Zipper sand skate

Psammobatis lentiginosa McEachran, 1983Freckled sand skate

Psammobatis normani McEachran, 1983Shortfin sand skate

Psammobatis parvacauda McEachran, 1983Smalltail sand skate

Psammobatis rudis Günther, 1870Smallthorn sand skate

Psammobatis rutrum Jordan, 1891Spade sand skate

Psammobatis scobina (Philippi, 1857)Raspthorn sand skate

Pseudoraja fischeri Bigelow & Schroeder, 1954Fanfin skate

Raja ackleyi Garman, 1881Ocellate skate

Raja africana Capapé, 1977African ray

Raja asterias Delaroche, 1809Starry ray

Raja bahamensis Bigelow & Schroeder, 1965Bahama skate

Raja binoculata Girard, 1855Big skate

Raja brachyura Lafont, 1873Blonde ray

Raja cervigoni Bigelow & Schroeder, 1964Finspot ray

Raja clavata Linnaeus, 1758Thornback ray

Raja cortezensis McEachran & Miyake, 1988Cortez' ray

Raja eglanteria Bosc, 1800Clearnose skate

Raja equatorialis Jordan & Bollman, 1890Ecuatorial ray

Raja flavirostris Philippi, 1893

Raja herwigi Krefft, 1965Cape Verde skate

Raja inornata Jordan & Gilbert, 1881California ray

Raja koreana Jeong & Nakabo, 1997Korean skate

Raja maderensis Lowe, 1838Madeiran ray

Raja microocellata Montagu, 1818Small-eyed ray

Raja miraletus Linnaeus, 1758Brown ray

Raja montagui Fowler, 1910Spotted ray

Raja polyommata Ogilby, 1910Argus skate

Raja polystigma Regan, 1923Speckled ray

Raja pulchra Liu, 1932Mottled skate

Raja radula Delaroche, 1809Rough ray

Raja rhina Jordan & Gilbert, 1880Longnose skate

Raja rondeleti Bougis, 1959Rondelet's ray

Raja rouxi Capapé, 1977

Raja stellulata Jordan & Gilbert, 1880Starry skate

Raja straeleni Poll, 1951Biscuit skate

Raja texana Chandler, 1921Roundel skate

Raja undulata Lacepède, 1802Undulate ray

Raja velezi Chirichigno F., 1973Velez ray

Raja whitleyi Iredale, 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 eisenhardti Long & 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 longi Raschi & McEachran, 1991Aleutian dotted skate

Rhinoraja longicauda Ishiyama, 1952White-bellied softnose skate

Rhinoraja obtusa (Gill & Townsend, 1897)Blunt skate

Rhinoraja odai Ishiyama, 1958Oda's skate

Rhinoraja taranetzi Dolganov, 1985Mud skate

Rioraja agassizii (Müller & Henle, 1841)Rio skate

Rostroraja alba (Lacepède, 1803)Bottlenosed skate

Sympterygia acuta Garman, 1877Bignose fanskate

Sympterygia bonapartii Müller & 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 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 bahamaensis

Chimaera jordani (Jordan-ginzame)

Chimaera monstrosa (rabbit fish) Atlantic. Upper continental slopes, 40 to 100m.

Chimaera notafricana South African chimaera

Chimaera owstoni (shirobuchi-ginzame)

Chimaera phantasma (silver chimaera) Continental shelves and upper slopes.

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)

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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