Sharpnose sevengill shark (Heptranchias perlo) is found in all three main oceans. This shark probably does not exceed 56 inches in length. In the western Atlantic this shark can be found in the vicinity of Florida and all along the coast of eastern South America as far south as mid Argentina. In the eastern Atlantic this is found near Spain and also in the Mediterranean. In the Pacific, this has been found near China and Japan, Australia, and Peru. In the Indian Ocean it has been found near South Africa, north of Madagascar, and along the west coast of India.

McClane states this shark grows to about 7 feet in length, whereas Compagno notes the 7 foot maximum might be might be an error, and the maximum length might be about just over 5 feet in length. The two white spots on the dorsal fin will help identify this shark. This tends to be a deep water species. Near Europe this is found in deep water down to over 1,000 feet of depth.

The sixgill and seven gill family (Hexanchidae) is a small family found almost worldiwde. There are only four species in this family. Members of this family have a single dorsal fin set further back on the body. The body turns upwards to extend almost to the tail tip.

Order Hexanchiformes contains two families. The frilled sharks (Chlamydoselachidae) and the six gilled and seven gilled sharks (Hexanchidae) belong here. There are only 6 known species in this order.

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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