Sealife guideThe sea vertebratesThe 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 Heterodontiformes includes sharks known for their distinctive blunt heads and unique teeth, which allow them to crush hard-shelled prey such as sea urchins and mollusks.

The horn shark family includes a small number of species, generally around 9 recognized species. These sharks are small to medium-sized, live mainly on rocky and sandy coastal bottoms, and feed primarily on mollusks and crustaceans, which they crush with their specialized teeth.

Japanese bullhead shark
(Heterodontus japonicus)

Port Jackson shark
(Heterodontus portusjacksoni)

Zebra bullhead shark
(Heterodontus zebra)

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)

The order Lamniformes includes sharks known for their large size and powerful swimming, including iconic species such as the great white shark and the mako shark.

Pelagic thresher shark
(Alopias pelagicus)

Basking Shark
(Cetorhinus maximus)

Great white shark
(Carcharodon carcharias)

Longfin mako
(Isurus paucus)

Short fin mako
(Isurus oxyrinchus)

Sand tiger shark
(Carcharias taurus)

The order Orectolobiformes includes sharks called carpet sharks, often seen resting on the sea floor or camouflaged among reefs, and also includes the largest shark species in the world: the whale shark.