Squalomorphi
| Squalomorphi Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| Spiny dogfish | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Chondrichthyes |
| Subclass: | Elasmobranchii |
| Division: | Selachii |
| Superorder: | Squalomorphi Compagno, 1973 |
| Series, orders and genera | |
| |
Squalomorphi is a superorder of sharks, generally characterized by lacking traits such as an anal fin, nictitating membrane, or suborbital shelves in the cranium. Squalomorphs are also called squalea, or squaleans. There are about 163 living species in 11 families. Squalean sharks are divided into six orders: Echinorhiniformes, Hexanchiformes, Squaliformes, Squatiniformes, Pristiophoriformes and the extinct Protospinaciformes.