Collared dogfish shark, cigar shark, or cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis) is found very sporadically in warmer and tropical waters around the world. It has been taken near Madagascar and Australia in the Indian Ocean. It has been taken in the Caribbean and also near Brazil in the Atlantic Ocean. In the Pacific Ocean it has been taken near many of the remote island groups. This shark grows to about 20 inches in length. The cigar shape and black collar that is found ahead of the pectoral fins will help identify this shark.

Kitefin shark family (Dalatiidae) contains about 10 species of medium to small sized deep water sharks in about 7 genera. Although most species are somewhat local, the family is represented in the three major oceans of the world. There are two dorsal fins. The pectoral fins with free edges probably gave rise to the name kitefin.

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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