Bramble shark (Echinorhinus brucus) has been found near Japan, east of New Guinea, and near Australia. It has also captured along the coast of eastern North America including occasionally near the Carolinas, and also off the coast of Argentina. However, most records are from near Europe, the Mediterranean, and off Afria. It has also been recorded near southern India. This shark can reach about 9 feet in length. There are a few scattered scales with spikes. The bramble shark is chocolate brown in color.

Bramble shark family (Echinorhinidae) contains two species of larger deep water sharks. Although this family is only locally found, it has been recorded in the three main oceans. The upper portion of the tail is elongated. There are two about equal sized dorsal fins set way back on the body. These are bottom dwelling and generally slow moving species.

The dogfish shark order (Squaliformes) contains 7 different families. The famlies and their species count estimates are as follows:

Echinorhinidae - Bramble sharks - 2 species
Squalidae - Dogfish sharks - 16 species
Centrophoridae - Gulper sharks - 14 species
Etmopteridae - Lantern sharks - 41 species
Somniosidae - Sleeper sharks - 18 species
Oxynotidae - Rough sharks - 5 soecues
Dalatiidae - Kitefin sharks - 10 species

Sharks and rays (Elasmobranchi), cartilaginous fishes, deserve to be a class separate from the normal fish, in that they do not have a bone skeleton but rather a cartilage skeleton.

Fertilization is internal in this class which also separates them from the bony fish class. Although there are a few fresh water species, the majority of the species in this class are found in salt water. As of 2005, there were about 500 known species of sharks and about 600 known species of rays.

David Ebert, author of a recent book on sharks, rays, and chimaeras of California, counts a total of 988 described species in the class with about 150 additional species awaiting scientific description. He breaks down the described species to 410 species of sharks, 543 species of rays, and 35 species of chimaeras.

Many species of sharks face an uncertain future, as the Chinese purchase shark fins to make shark fin soup. It was estimated that 100 milllion sharks are killed each year for this purpose. However, recent estimates indicate the Chinese are reducing their consumption of this exotic soup.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

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