Small fin catshark (Apristurus parvipinnis) is found from western Florida south through the Florida Keys to Cuba. Populations are also found near Yucatan, Panama, and near the mouth of the Amazon River. The dorsal fins are set back, and are both quite small. This small shark seemingly does not exceed 21 inches.

Cat Sharks (Family Scyliorhinidae) are a group of about ninety species of small sharks that are found worldwide. Many species are found near Australia. Following are some of the species in this family:

Brown Cat Shark - Apisturus brunneus - Eastern Pacific
Longnose Cat Shark - Apisturus kampae - Pacific
Flathead Cat Shark - Apristurus laurussoni - North Atlantic
Australian Swell - Cephaloscyllium laticeps - Pacific
Swell Shark - Cephaloscyllium ventriosum - Eastern Pacific
Marbled Cat Shark - Galeus arae - Caribbean
Skaamong - Holohalaelurus regani - S. Africa
File Tail Cat - Parmaturus xaniurus - Pacific
Japan False Cat - Pseudotriakis acrages - Japan
False Cat Shark - Pseudotriakis microdon - North Atlantic
- - - - - - - - Scyliorhinus boa - Cuba to Brazil
Lesser Spotted Dog - Scyliorhinus caniculus - Europe
Chain Dogfish - Scyliorhinus retifer - N-west Atlantic
Large Spotted Dog - Scyliorhinus stellarius - N-west Atlantic

This large order contains the catsharks, the houndsharks, the requiem sharks, and the hammerhead sharks. This large order contains about 225 species divided into about 8 families.

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.

NEW SEARCH