Chondrichthyes
Sharks and rays
Chondrichthyes is the taxonomic class of cartilaginous fish—those whose skeletons are made of cartilage rather than bone.
The group includes sharks, rays, and skates.
The term comes from Greek words meaning "cartilage fish." Chondrichthyes diverged from bony fish over 400 million years ago.
Cartilaginous marine predator
- rayNarrow light emission
- skateGliding boot or flatfish
- chimaeraFabled composite monster
- cartilageFlexible connective body tissue
skeleton · flexible · lightweight · buoyant · notochord · collagen · endoskeleton · pliable
Massive saltwater body
- saltwaterOcean water, chemically speaking
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
- pelagicOf the open sea
- benthicOf the sea bottom
reef · depths · habitat · migration · currents · coastal · deep-sea · tropical
Uppermost point or culmination
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- jawsMouth's bony framework
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
- huntingPursuing wild game
ambush · prey · scavenger · filter-feeder · serrated · sensory · olfaction
Geologic period, 419-359 million years ago
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
- MesozoicAge of Reptiles
- CarboniferousCoal-depositing geological period
- PermianLate Paleozoic geological period
Triassic · Jurassic · Cretaceous · fossilized · extinct · megalodon · paleontology · evolution
Phylum featuring notochords
- subclassTaxonomic rank below main
- superorderRank above order
- cladeMonophyletic taxonomic group
- phylogenyEvolutionary relationships among organisms
shark
Cartilaginous marine predator
cartilage · skeleton · flexible · lightweight · buoyant · notochord · collagen · endoskeleton · pliable · resilient
ocean
Massive saltwater body
benthic · reef · depths · habitat · migration · currents · coastal · deep-sea · tropical · temperate
apex
Uppermost point or culmination
- carnivoreCreature eating only animals
- jawsMouth's bony framework
- teethEnamel-covered chewing structures
hunting · ambush · prey · scavenger · filter-feeder · serrated · sensory · olfaction
Devonian
Geologic period, 419-359 million years ago
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
- MesozoicAge of Reptiles
- CarboniferousCoal-depositing geological period
Permian · Triassic · Jurassic · Cretaceous · fossilized · extinct · megalodon · paleontology · evolution · primitive
Chordata
Phylum featuring notochords
- subclassTaxonomic rank below main
- superorderRank above order
- cladeMonophyletic taxonomic group