Ground sharks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ground sharks |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| The Blacktip reef shark, Carcharhinus melanopterus, is one of the many types of Ground Sharks. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Subclass: | |
| Superorder: | |
| Order: |
Carcharhiniformes
|
Carcharhiniformes is the largest order of sharks. Also known as Ground sharks or Whaler sharks, this group contains over 270 species of shark. It includes some common ones like the Blue shark, Bull shark, Tiger shark and the hammerhead sharks.
Ground sharks have a special membrane which protects their eyes when needed. They have two dorsal fins, an anal fin, and five gill slits.
Ground sharks are found in open oceans, seas, estuaries, and brackish waters.
Families
There are eight families in this order:
- Carcharhinidae (Requiem sharks)
- Hemigaleidae (Weasel sharks)
- Leptochariidae (Barbeled houndsharks)
- Proscylliidae (Finback cat sharks)
- Pseudotriakidae (False cat sharks)
- Scyliorhinidae (Cat sharks)
- Sphyrnidae (Hammerhead sharks)
- Triakidae (Hound sharks)
Images for kids
-
Groundsharks, like this blacknose shark, have a nictitating membrane which can be drawn over the eye to protect it.
See also
In Spanish: Carcarriniformes para niños
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Ground sharks Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.