Lamniformes Temporal range: Early Cretaceous–Recent |
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Great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Chondrichthyes |
Superorder: | Selachimorpha |
Order: |
Lamniformes L. S. Berg, 1958 |
Families | |
See Text |
See Text
The Lamniformes (from the Greek word, Lamna "fish of prey") are an order of sharks commonly known as mackerel sharks (which may also refer specifically to the family Lamnidae). It includes some of the most familiar species of sharks, such as the great white shark, as well as more unusual representatives, such as the goblin shark and the megamouth shark.
Members of the order are distinguished by possessing two dorsal fins, an anal fin, five gill slits, eyes without nictitating membranes, and a mouth extending behind the eyes. Also, unlike other sharks, they maintain a higher body temperature than the surrounding water.
The order Lamniformes includes 10 families with 22 species, with a total of seven living families and 17 living species:
Order Lamniformes
In 2010, Greenpeace International added the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) to its seafood red list.