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Carcharhiniformes

Ground sharks
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Chondrichthyes
Order:Carcharhiniformes
Families
Scyliorhinidae (cat sharks)
Proscyllidae[?] (finback cat sharks)
Pseudotriakidae[?] (false cat sharks)
Leptochariidae[?] (barbeled houndshark)
Triakidae[?] (hound sharks)
Hemigaleidae[?] (weasel sharks)
Carcharhinidae (requiem sharks)

The ground sharks, order Carcharhiniformes, are the largest order of sharks, with over 270 species, and includes a number of common types, such as the blue shark. They are also called "whaler sharks".

Members of the orders are characterized by the presence of a nictitating membrane[?] over the eye, two dorsal fins[?], an anal fin[?], and five gill slits.

The families of the carcharhiniforms are expected to be revised; recent DNA studies show that some of the traditional groups are not monophyletic.

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