List of sharks facts for kids

Sharks are amazing fish that have lived in our oceans for a very long time! They belong to a special group of fish called Chondrichthyes, which means they have skeletons made of cartilage, not bone. This group also includes rays and skates. The earliest shark-like fish swam in the oceans over 400 million years ago, even before the dinosaurs!

Today, there are about 580 different kinds of sharks known to science. These sharks are grouped into eight main families, called orders. Each order has its own unique features. Let's explore some of these incredible shark groups!

This image shows the eight main groups, or orders, of sharks that live today.

Ancient Sharks: Cow and Frilled Sharks

The Hexanchiformes are often called "ancient sharks" because they look a lot like their ancestors from millions of years ago. This group includes two families:

• Family Chlamydoselachidae (Frilled Sharks): These sharks have long, eel-like bodies and frilly gills. There are 2 known species, like the amazing frilled shark.
• Family Hexanchidae (Cow Sharks): These sharks have six or seven gill slits, which is more than most other sharks. They are deep-water sharks. There are 5 known species, including the blunt-nose six-gill shark.

Dogfish Sharks: Small but Mighty

The Squaliformes order includes many types of smaller sharks, often called "dogfish." They usually live in deep waters. This order has 7 families and over 120 species!

• Family Centrophoridae (Gulper Sharks): These sharks have large eyes and two dorsal fins with spines. There are about 14 species, like the gulper shark.
• Family Dalatiidae (Kite-fin Sharks): This family includes some of the smallest sharks, like the pygmy shark and the famous cookiecutter shark. There are about 11 species.
• Family Echinorhinidae (Bramble Sharks): These sharks have rough, thorny skin. There are 2 species, including the bramble shark.
• Family Etmopteridae (Lantern Sharks): Many of these deep-sea sharks can glow in the dark! There are over 50 species, such as the velvet-belly lanternshark.
• Family Oxynotidae (Rough Sharks): These sharks have tall, triangular dorsal fins and rough skin. There are 5 species, like the angular roughshark.
• Family Somniosidae (Sleeper Sharks): These are slow-moving, large sharks found in cold, deep waters. The Greenland shark is a famous member, known for its incredibly long lifespan. There are about 13 species.
• Family Squalidae (Dogfish Sharks): This is a large family with many species, including the well-known spiny dogfish. There are over 30 species in this family.

Sawsharks: Sharks with a Saw-like Snout

The Pristiophoriformes are easily recognized by their long, flat snouts that look like a saw, with sharp teeth along the edges. They also have two long barbels (whisker-like feelers) on their snouts.

• Family Pristiophoridae (Sawsharks): This is the only family in this order. There are 10 known species, including the six-gill sawshark and the long-nose sawshark. They use their saw-like snouts to stun prey.

Angel Sharks: Flat and Hidden

Angel sharks are unique because they have flat bodies and wide pectoral fins, making them look more like rays than typical sharks. They are masters of camouflage, burying themselves in the sand to ambush prey.

• Family Squatinidae (Angel Sharks): This is the only family in the order, with over 20 known species. Examples include the angelshark and the Pacific angelshark.

Bullhead Sharks: Horned and Spiny

Bullhead sharks are easily recognized by their short, blunt heads and two dorsal fins, each with a sharp spine at the front. They are usually small and live near the seabed.

• Family Heterodontidae (Bullhead Sharks): This is the only family in the order, with 11 known species. The horn shark and the Port Jackson shark are good examples.

Mackerel Sharks: The Ocean's Giants and Fast Swimmers

The Lamniformes order includes some of the largest and fastest sharks in the ocean. This group has 7 families and about 17 species.

• Family Alopiidae (Thresher Sharks): Known for their incredibly long tails, which they use to stun fish. There are 3 species, like the thresher shark.
• Family Cetorhinidae (Basking Sharks): The second-largest fish in the world, the basking shark is a gentle giant that filters plankton from the water. This family has only 1 species.
• Family Lamnidae (Mackerel Sharks): This family includes some of the most famous sharks, such as the powerful great white shark and the speedy short-fin mako. There are 5 species.
• Family Megachasmidae (Megamouth Sharks): A rare, deep-water shark with a huge mouth for filtering plankton. The megamouth shark is the only species in this family.
• Family Mitsukurinidae (Goblin Sharks): These unusual deep-sea sharks have a long, flat snout and jaws that can extend forward. The goblin shark is the only species.
• Family Odontaspididae (Sand Tiger Sharks): These sharks have sharp, jagged teeth that stick out even when their mouths are closed. There are 3 species, including the sand tiger shark.
• Family Pseudocarchariidae (Crocodile Sharks): Small, deep-water sharks with large eyes and sharp teeth. The crocodile shark is the only species.

Carpet Sharks: Masters of Camouflage

Carpet sharks are often found on the ocean floor, blending in with their surroundings. Many have flattened bodies and patterns that look like carpets. This order has 7 families and over 40 species.

• Family Brachaeluridae (Blind Sharks): These small sharks can close their eyes when pulled from the water, making them seem "blind." There are 2 species.
• Family Ginglymostomatidae (Nurse Sharks): Known for resting on the seabed and having small mouths with barbels. There are 3 species, including the nurse shark.
• Family Hemiscylliidae (Bamboo Sharks): Small, slender sharks often found in shallow waters. The epaulette shark can even "walk" on its fins! There are over 15 species.
• Family Orectolobidae (Wobbegong Sharks): These sharks have flattened bodies and frilly skin flaps that help them blend into rocky reefs. There are about 11 species, like the spotted wobbegong.
• Family Parascylliidae (Collared Carpetsharks): Small, slender sharks with distinctive collar-like markings. There are 8 species.
• Family Rhincodontidae (Whale Sharks): Home to the largest fish in the world, the whale shark is a filter feeder that eats tiny plankton. This family has only 1 species.
• Family Stegostomatidae (Zebra Sharks): These sharks have long tails and a distinctive striped pattern when young, which changes to spots as they grow. The zebra shark is the only species.

Ground Sharks: The Most Diverse Group

The Carcharhiniformes order is the largest group of sharks, with many different shapes and sizes. They are often found in warm, shallow waters. This order has 8 families and over 290 species!

• Family Carcharhinidae (Requiem Sharks): This large family includes many well-known sharks, such as the bull shark, tiger shark, and black-tip shark. There are over 60 species.
• Family Hemigaleidae (Weasel Sharks): These are small to medium-sized sharks found in tropical waters. There are about 10 species.
• Family Dichichthyidae (Bristle Catsharks): A family of deep-sea catsharks. There are 6 species.
• Family Leptochariidae (Barbeled Houndsharks): This family has only one species, the barbeled houndshark, known for its whisker-like barbels.
• Family Pentachidae (Deepsea Catsharks): These are small, deep-water sharks. This family includes many species, such as those in the genus Apristurus. There are over 100 species.
• Family Proscylliidae (Fin-back Catsharks): Small, slender sharks found in deep waters. There are 7 species.
• Family Pseudotriakidae (False Catsharks): These are deep-water sharks with soft bodies. There are 6 species, including the false catshark.
• Family Scyliorhinidae (Catsharks): This is the largest family of sharks, with over 160 species! They are mostly small, bottom-dwelling sharks, like the small-spotted catshark.
• Family Sphyrnidae (Hammerhead Sharks): Famous for their unique hammer-shaped heads, which help them see and find prey. The smooth hammerhead and great hammerhead are examples. There are 10 species.
• Family Triakidae (Houndsharks): These sharks have slender bodies and small, sharp teeth. The tope shark and leopard shark are members of this family. There are over 40 species.

See also

• List of Chimaeras
• List of prehistoric cartilaginous fish genera
• List of threatened sharks
• Outline of sharks
• List of sharks in California