• two dorsal fins, without spines
• anal fin present
• five pairs of gill slits, either entirely in front of the pectoral fin base or with the last two above the pectoral base
• spiracles usually present, small and behind eyes
• eyes without nictitating membrane
• mouth subterminal, jaws extending well behind the eyes
• upper teeth well differentiated along the jaws forming the so-called "lamnoid dental pattern" which features enlarged anterior teeth, slightly to much smaller intermediate teeth, large lateral teeth, followed by much smaller posterior teeth
• intestinal valve of ring type
• ovoviviparous, the fetuses of most forms augmenting their in utero nourishment by feeding on unfertilized eggs (oviphagy or oophagy)
• exclusively marine, in coastal to open-ocean environments; they inhabit cold temperate to tropical zones of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans
• 10 genera in 8 families

7 Species of Lamniformes

• Great White Shark
• Basking Shark
• Goblin Shark
• Megamouth Shark
• Thresher Shark
• Shortfin Mako Shark
• Longfin Mako Shark

 

 

Chris Fallows/apexpredators.com

       

	"Basking Shark." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 18 April 2008, at 22:24 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 April 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basking_shark.
"Goblin Shark." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 16 April 2008, at 12:23 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 April 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblin_shark
	"Megamouth Shark." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 5 April 2008, at 01:05 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 April 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megamouth_shark
"ShortfinMako Shark." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 22 April 2008, at 00:22 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 April 2008. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isurus_oxyrinchus

Martin, Aidan R. "Biology of Sharks and Rays." Elasmo Research. 16 Mar.-Apr. 2008 <http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/shark_profiles/lamniformes.htm>.