Shark Types - Species and Their Characteristics

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 28 January 2021
Update Date: 19 May 2024
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Spread across the seas and ocean of the world, there are over 350 species of sharks, although that's nothing compared to the more than 1,000 fossil species we know. Prehistoric sharks appeared on planet Earth 400 million years ago, and since then, many species have disappeared, and others have survived the major changes that the planet has undergone. Sharks as we know them today appeared 100 million years ago.

The existing variety of shapes and sizes made sharks to be classified into several groups, and within these groups we find dozens of species. We invite you to know, in this PeritoAnimal article, how many types of shark are there, its characteristics and several examples.


Squatiniforms

Among the types of sharks, sharks of the order Squatiniformes are commonly known as "angel sharks". This group is characterized by not having an anal fin, having a flattened body and the highly developed pectoral fins. Their appearance is very similar to a skate, but they are not.

O angel shark (Squatina aculeata) inhabits part of the Atlantic Ocean, from Morocco and the coast of the western Sahara to Namibia, passing through Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria and Gabon to the south of Angola. They can also be found in the Mediterranean. Despite being the largest shark of its group (almost two meters wide), the species is in critical danger of extinction due to intense fishing. They are aplacental viviparous animals.


In the northwest and western central Pacific, we find another species of angel shark, the sea ​​angel shark (Squatin Tergocellatoides). Very little is known about this species, as there are few cataloged specimens. Some data indicate that they live on the seabed, at depths between 100 and 300 meters, as they are often accidentally captured in the drag net.

Others Squatiniform shark species are:

  • Eastern angel shark (Squatin albipunctate)
  • Argentinian Angel Shark (argentine squatina)
  • Chilean angel shark (Squatina armata)
  • Australian Angel Shark (Squatina Australis)
  • Pacific Angel Shark (californica squatin)
  • Atlantic Angel Shark (Dumeric squatin)
  • Taiwanese angel shark (beautiful squatina)
  • Japanese Angel Shark(japonica squatina)

In the image we can see a copy of japanese angel shark:


Pristiophoriformes

The order of Pristiophoriformes is formed by the saw sharks.The snout of these sharks is long and with serrated edges, hence their name. Like the previous group, the pristiophoriformes don't have a fin anal. They seek their prey at the bottom of the sea, so they have long appendages near the mouth, that serve to detect their prey.

In the Indian Ocean, south of Australia and Tasmania, we can find the horned saw shark (Pristiophorus cirratus). They live in sandy areas, at depths ranging between 40 and 300 meters, where they can easily find their prey. They are ovoviviparous animals.

Deeper in the Caribbean Sea, we find the Bahama saw shark (Pristiophorus schroederi). This animal, physically very similar to the previous one and to the other saw sharks, lives between 400 and 1,000 meters deep.

In total, there are only six described species of saw shark, the other four being:

  • Six-gill saw shark (Pliotrema warreni)
  • Japanese saw shark (Pristiophorus japonicus)
  • Southern saw shark (Pristiophorus nudipinnis)
  • Western saw shark (Pristiophorus delicatus)

In the image, we see a japan saw shark:

Squaliformes

The types of shark in the order Squaliformes are more than 100 species of shark. The animals in this group are characterized by having five pairs of gill openings and spiracles, which are orifices related to the respiratory system. Do not have nictitating membrane or eyelid, not even anal fin.

In almost every sea and ocean in the world we can find the capuchin (Echinorhinus brucus). Almost nothing is known about the biology of this species. They appear to inhabit depths between 400 and 900 meters, although they have also been found much closer to the surface. They are ovoviviparous animals, relatively slow and with a maximum size of 3 meters in length.

Another squaliform shark is the prickly sea shark (Oxynotus bruniensis). It lives in the waters of southern Australia and New Zealand, southwestern Pacific and eastern India. It has been observed in a wide range of depth, between 45 and 1,067 meters. They are small animals, reaching a maximum size of 76 centimeters. They are aplacental ovoviviparous with oophagia.

Other known species of squaliformes sharks are:

  • Pocket shark (Mollisquama parini)
  • Small-eyed Pygmy Shark (Squaliolus aliae)
  • Scraper Shark (Miroscyllium sheikoi)
  • Aculeola nigra
  • Scymnodalatias albicauda
  • Centroscyllium fabricii
  • Centroscymnus plunketi
  • Japanese Velvet Shark (Zamy Ichiharai)

In the photograph we can see a copy of small-eyed pygmy shark:

Carcharhiniformes

This group includes about 200 species of sharks, among them some very well known, such as the hammer shark (sphyrna lewini). The animals belonging to this order and the next ones already have anal fin. This group, moreover, is characterized by having a flat snout, a very wide mouth that extends beyond the eyes, whose lower eyelid acts as a nictitating membrane and its digestive system has a spiral bowel valve.

O Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is one of the best-known types of sharks, and, according to shark attack statistics, it is one of the most common shark attacks, along with the flat-head and the white shark. Tiger sharks live in tropical or temperate oceans and seas around the world. It is found on the continental shelf and on reefs. They are viviparous with oophagia.

O crystal-beak cation (Galeorhinus Galeus) inhabits the waters that bathe western Europe, western Africa, South America, the west coast of the United States and the southern part of Australia. They prefer shallow areas. They are aplacental viviparous shark types, with litters of between 20 and 35 offspring. They are relatively small sharks, measuring between 120 and 135 centimeters.

Other species of carcharhiniformes are:

  • Gray reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
  • Bearded shark(smithii leptocharias)
  • Harlequin shark (Ctenacis fehlmanni)
  • Scylliogaleus quecketti
  • Chaenogaleus macrostoma
  • Hemigaleus microstoma
  • Snaggletooth Shark (hemipristis elongata)
  • Silver tip shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus)
  • Fine-billed shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
  • Borneo shark (Carcharhinus borneensis)
  • Nervous shark(Carcharhinus cautus)

The copy in the image is a hammer shark:

laminforms

Lamniform sharks are types of shark that have two dorsal fins and one anal fin. They don't have nictitating eyelids, they have five gill openings and spiracles. The intestinal valve is ring-shaped. Most have a long snout and the opening of the mouth goes to the back of the eyes.

The weird goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) has a global but uneven distribution. They are not evenly distributed across the oceans. It is possible that this species is found in more places, but the data comes from accidental catches in fishing nets. They live between 0 and 1300 meters deep and can exceed 6 meters in length. Its reproduction type or biology is unknown.

O elephant shark (cetorhinus maximus) is not a large predator like the other sharks in this group, it is a very large, cold-water species that feeds by filtration, is migratory and is widely distributed in the planet's seas and oceans. Populations of this animal found in the North Pacific and Northwest Atlantic are in danger of extinction.

Other species of Lamniformes sharks:

  • Bull shark (Taurus Carcharias)
  • Tricuspidatus carcharias
  • Crocodile shark (Kamoharai Pseudocarcharias)
  • Great Mouth Shark (Megachasma pelagios)
  • Pelagic fox shark (Alopias pelagicus)
  • Big-eyed fox shark (Alopias superciliosus)
  • White shark (Carcharodon carcharias)
  • Shark mako(Isurus oxyrinchus)

In the image we can see an image of the peregrine shark:

Orectolobiform

Orectolobiform shark types live in tropical or warm waters. They are characterized by having an anal fin, two dorsal fins without spines, the small mouth in relation to the body, with nostrils (similar to nasal orifices) that communicate with the mouth, short muzzle, right in front of the eyes. There are thirty-three species of orectolobiform sharks.

O Whale shark (rhincodon typus) lives in all tropical, subtropical and warm seas, including the Mediterranean. They are found from the surface to almost 2,000 meters deep. They can reach 20 meters in length and weigh more than 42 tons. Throughout its lifetime, a whale shark will feed on different prey items according to its own growth. As it grows, the prey also becomes larger.

Along the coast of Australia, at shallow depth (less than 200 meters), we can find the carpet shark (Orectolobus halei). They usually live in coral reefs or rocky areas, where they can be easily camouflaged. They are nocturnal animals, they only come out of hiding at dusk. It is a viviparous species with oophagia.

Other species of orectolobiform shark:

  • Cirrhoscyllium expolitum
  • Parascyllium ferruginum
  • Chiloscyllium arabicum
  • Bamboo Gray Shark (Chiloscyllium griseum)
  • Blind shark (brachaelurus waddi)
  • Nebrius ferruginous
  • Zebra Shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)

The photograph shows a copy of carpet shark:

Heterodontiform

The heterodontiform shark types are small animals, they have a spine on the dorsal fin, and an anal fin. Over the eyes they have a crest, and they do not have a nictitating membrane. They have five gill slits, three of them over the pectoral fins. Have two different types of teeth, the forequarters are sharp and conical, while the hindquarters are flat and wide, serving to grind the food. They are oviparous sharks.

O horn shark (Heterodontus francisci) is one of the 9 existing species of this order of sharks. It inhabits the entire southern coast of California, although the species extends to Mexico. They can be found at depths of over 150 meters, but it is common for them to be found between 2 and 11 meters deep.

South of Australia, and Tanzania, inhabits the jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni). Like other heterodontiform sharks, they live in surface water and can be found up to 275 meters deep. It is also nocturnal, and during the day it is hidden in coral reefs or rocky areas. They measure about 165 centimeters in length.

The other heterodontiform shark species are:

  • Crested head shark (Heterodontus Galeatus)
  • Japanese horn shark (Heterodontus japonicus)
  • Mexican horn shark (Heterodontus mexicanus)
  • Oman's horn shark (Heterodontus omanensis)
  • Galapagos Horn Shark (Heterodontus quoyi)
  • African horn shark (Straw heteroodontus)
  • Zebrahorn Shark (zebra heteroodontus)

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The shark in the image is an example of horn shark:

Hexanchiforms

We end this article on shark types with the hexanchiformes. This order of sharks includes the most primitive living species, which are only six. They are characterized by having a single dorsal fin with a spine, six to seven gill openings and no nictitating membrane in the eyes.

O snake shark or eel shark​ (Chlamydoselachus anguineus) inhabits the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in a very heterogeneous way. They live at a maximum depth of 1,500 meters, and a minimum of 50 meters, although they are generally found in the range between 500 and 1,000 meters. It is a viviparous species, and it is believed that its gestation can last between 1 and 2 years.

O big eyed cow shark (Hexanchus Nakamurai) is widely distributed over all warm or temperate seas and oceans, but as in the previous case, its distribution is very heterogeneous. It is a kind of deep water, between 90 and 620 meters. They usually reach 180 centimeters in length. They are ovoviviparous and lay between 13 and 26 offspring.

The other hexanchiform sharks are:

  • South African eel shark (African Chlamydoselachus)
  • Seven-gill shark(Heptanchia perlo)
  • Albacore shark (Hexanchus griseus)
  • Witch Dog (Notorynchus cepedianus)

Read too: The 5 most dangerous marine animals in the world

In the photo, a copy of snake shark or eel shark:

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