Sealife guideThe Hexanchiformes orderThe taxonomy of marine species

Explore the taxonomy of the sea vertebrates including the cetaceans like the whales or the dolphins, the sea birds, the fish, the sharks and the sea turtles !

The order Hexanchiformes includes sharks easily recognized by their six or seven gill slits, their ancient lineage, and their deep-sea habitats.

Frilled shark
(Chlamydoselachus anguineus)

Broadnose sevengill shark
(Notorynchus cepedianus)

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Friday, August 14th 2026

The reef manta ray

Discover the reef manta ray (Mobula alfredi), an impressive tropical ray that frequents coral reefs and feeds mainly on plankton.

Wednesday, August 12th 2026

The crown-of-thorns starfish

Discover the crown-of-thorns starfish, a voracious coral predator that, when populations become unusually large, can consume vast areas of coral and cause significant damage to coral reefs.

Monday, August 10th 2026

The royal sea star

Discover the royal sea star (Astropecten articulatus), a fascinating sea star found on sandy bottoms in the western Atlantic, recognized by its colorful, spine-covered margins.

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Grand cachalot
(Physeter macrocephalus)