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The order Carcharhiniformes, aka the "Ground Sharks," have been recorded in fossil findings as far back as the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago, according to Grzimek's "Animal Life Encyclopedia." There are an estimated 216 species, 48 genera, and 8 families in this order. Carcharhiniformes make up for more than 50% of all shark species and almost half of all genera!! Curious as to where your favorite shark fits in to this order? Read on and find out below! *Confused about about what and where order family and species fall on the hierarchy? Just remember KPCOFGS: Kings play chess on Friday generally speaking.
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species

Scyliorhinidae: The catsharks are the largest shark family of any order. The Swellshark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) is in this family. This is a coral cat shark.

Pseudotriakidae: The false catsharks are monotypic... ENGLISH!?!?! monotypic=having one appearance, form, or design. This means that your only example is The False catshark (Pseudotiakis microdon)

Triakidae: hound sharks make contain 10 genera and 39 species!!! The Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata) can be found in bays and estuaries but is not considered dangerous.

Hemigaleidae: weasel sharks. 4 genera and seven species that you probably never knew about.

Carcharhinidae: The requiem sharks, The BEST of the BEST, The BIG BOSSES of the shark world. In this family you have 12 genera and 50...yes 50...species!!! Here you have the Oceanic Whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus), Copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus), and the Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas)! There are many more in this family and most likely your favorite shark is one of its members.

	"Oceanic Whitetip Shark." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 19 April 2008, at 22:20 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 April 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_Whitetip_Shark
	"Bull Shark." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 17 April 2008, at 01:31 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 April 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bull_shark
	"Tiger Shark." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 20 April 2008, at 11:01 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 April 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_shark
	Blue Shark." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 22 April 2008, at 04:09 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 April 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_shark
	"Hammerhead Shark." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 22 April 2008, at 19:06 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 April 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerhead_shark

Sphyrnidae: Last but not least is the Hammerhead shark. Believe it or not, the hammerheads have two distinct genera and eight recorded species as of 2003. You have the Great Hammerhead shark Sphyrna mokarran, and the Bonnethead shark Sphyrna tiburo in this family.

Due to the immense variety and vast distribution globally, the Carcharhiniformes have innumerable physical characteristics, both morphologically and ecologically...ENGLISH!?!?! physical shape and habitat.

The order Carcharhiniformes is the proud owner of many anomalies in the shark world. Here are a few.

The Bull shark is one of a handful of sharks able to survive in brackish and fresh water for extended periods of time.

There was a case in the early 1900's where a bull shark was recorded several miles up a freshwater stream and was blamed for several deaths.

The Carcharhiniforme order is one of the most fruitful of all orders and actually contains the majority of the large sharks. This is unique due to the fact that normally the larger the shark population, the smaller they are in size!

Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition. Volume 4, Fishes I, edited by Michael Hutchins and Neil Schlager. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group, 2003.