Carcharhiniformes

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Ground sharks, like this blacknose shark, have a nictitating membrane which can be drawn over the eye to protect it.

Carcharhiniformes (Template:IPAc-en; Template:Etymology), commonly called ground sharks, are the largest order of sharks, with over 270 species. They include a number of common types, such as catsharks, swellsharks, and requiem sharks. Well known sharks in this order include hammerhead sharks and tiger sharks.

Members of this order are characterized by the presence of a nictitating membrane over the eye, two dorsal fins, an anal fin, and five gill slits.

The families in the order Carcharhiniformes are expected to be revised; recent DNA studies show that some of the conventional groups are not monophyletic.

The oldest members of the order appeared during the Middle-Late Jurassic, which have teeth and body forms that are morphologically similar to living catsharks.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> Carchariniformes first underwent major diversification during the Late Cretaceous, initially as mostly small-sized forms, before radiating into medium and large body sizes during the Cenozoic.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Families

Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes classifies the Carcharhiniformes into two suborders and twelve families:<ref name = EcoF>Template:Cite web</ref>

Fossil genera

The following fossil genera of Carcharhiniformes are also known:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

References

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Further reading

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