Odontaspididae,SandTiger,Pseudocarchariidae,Crocodile,Mitsukurinidae,Goblin,Megachasmidae,Megamouth,Alopiidae,Thresher,Cetorhinidae,Basking,LAMNIDAE,Mackerel

Guide to Shark Identification

Order Lamniformes

Mackerel Sharks

Characteristics shared by all lamnoid sharks are as follows:

  1. nictitating eyelids absent
  2. mouth behind front of eyes
  3. five pairs of gill slits
  4. both dorsal fins without spines
  5. anal fin present

The order Lamniformes are not the largest group of sharks, although they are probably the most diversified. Sharks in this order include everything from the infamous Great White to the docile Sand Tiger to the filter feeding Basking Shark. This order of sharks is different in several ways, first they lack a nictitating membrane of skin that covers the sharks vulnerable eyes when it attacks, however, an exception to this is the Great White that rolls its eyes backwards when it attacks. Second many sharks in this group are hard to classify, especially the sand tigers because they are very similar in appearance

The lamnoids also include some of the most spectacular and popular sharks. The Goblin, Sandtiger, Megamouth, threshers, Basking, and the Great White Sharks..In size, the lamnoids range from the little Crocodile Shark which grows to 3.6 feet to the enormous Basking Shark which grows to a length of at least 32 feet. Most lamnoids are active, apex predators and some are considered dangerous to humans (the name derives from lamia, a horrible, serpent-like monster of Greek mythology with a taste for human flesh). A few lamnoids , the Basking and Megamouth sharks are planktivores, straining tiny animals from the water via bristle- or finger-like gill rakers.

Habitat

These sharks are associated with continental or insular landmasses; none is oceanic. They reach depths of 630 to nearly 4,000 ft. Found in all warm temperature and tropical seas, though distribution of individual species may be patchy as they are found in different areas of the world.

Diet

Bony fishes, small sharks and rays, cephalopods, and large crustaceans, however their diet also varies, from being ravenous meat eaters to mild-tempered filter-feeders.

Predator

Most lamnoids are active, apex predators and some are considered dangerous to humans (the group's scientific name derives from lamia, a horrible, serpent-like monster of Greek mythology with a taste for human flesh). A few lamnoids - namely, the Basking and Megamouth (Megachasma pelagios) sharks - are planktivores, straining tiny animals from the water via bristle- or finger-like gill rakers.

The Lamniformes are a complex and diverse group of sharks

  1. kingdom, Animalia, multicellular organisms with DNA enclosed within double membrained nucleus that feed on other organisms
  2. Phylum, Chordata, notochord, dorsal hollow nerve chord, post anal tail and gill pouches.
  3. Sub Phylum, Verebrata, vertebral column/backbone
  4. Class, Chondrichthyes, Jawed fish with paired fins and flexible cartilaginous, internal skeleton.
  5. Order, Lamniformes, Mackerel sharks - upper teeth well differentiated along the jaws forming the so-called "lamnoid dental pattern" which features enlarged anterior teeth slightly to much smaller intermediate teeth, large lateral teeth, followed by much smaller posterior teeth

Order Lamniformes - Mackerel Sharks

There are 7 families:

Family Odontaspididae - Sand Tiger Sharks

Four Species
species in the family Odontaspididae
Carcharias taurusSand tiger, spotted raggedtooth, or grey nurse shark
Eugomphodus tricuspidatusIndian sand tiger
Odontaspis feroxSmalltooth sand tiger or bumpytail raggedtooth
Odontaspis noronhaiBigeye sand tiger

Family Pseudocarchariidae - Crocodile Sharks

One Species
species in family - Pseudocarchariidae
Pseudocarcharias kamoharaiCrocodile shark

Family Mitsukurinidae - Goblin Sharks

One Species
species in family - Mitsukurinidae
Mitsukurina owstoniGoblin shark

Family Megachasmidae - Megamouth Sharks

one species
species in family - Megachasmidae
Megachasma pelagiosMegamouth Shark

Family Alopiidae - Thresher Sharks

Three Species
species in family -Alopiidae
Alopias pelagicusPelagic thresher
Alopias superciliosusBigeye thresher
Alopias vulpinusThresher shark

Family Cetorhinidae - Basking Sharks

One Species Cetorhinus maximus
species in family - Cetorhinidae
Basking shark

Family LAMNIDAE - Mackerel Sharks

Five Species
species in family - Lamnidae
Carcharodon carchariasGreat white shark
Isurus oxyrinchusShortfin mako
Isurus paucusLongfin mako
Lamna ditropisSalmon shark
Lamna nasusProbeagle shark