Taxonomy of Sharks

Sharks, along with skates, guitarfishes, rays (batoids) and chimaeras belong to the Phylum Chordata, and the Class Chondrichthyes. Species in the class Chondrichthyes can be characterized by their cartilaginous skeleton, allowing their skeletal structure greater flexibility than rigid bone would. Chondrichthyes have placoid scales, sometimes referred to as dermal denticles; tiny hard modified teeth that aid in the movement of the fish through the water by reducing drag. Other anatomical features that all Chondrichthyes share are paired pectoral fins and ampullae of Lorenzini, which are used to sense electrical fields within their environment