selachian

/səˈleɪkiən/

Other forms: selachians

Definitions of selachian

1. noun

   any of numerous fishes of the class Chondrichthyes characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton and placoid scales: sharks; rays; skates
   synonyms: elasmobranch

   types:

   shark

   any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales

   ray

   cartilaginous fishes having horizontally flattened bodies and enlarged winglike pectoral fins with gills on the underside; most swim by moving the pectoral fins

   Hexanchus griseus, cow shark, six-gilled shark

   large primitive shark widely distributed in warm seas

   mackerel shark

   fierce pelagic and oceanic sharks

   Alopius vulpinus, fox shark, thrasher, thresher, thresher shark

   large pelagic shark of warm seas with a whiplike tail used to round up small fish on which to feed

   Orectolobus barbatus, carpet shark

   shark of the western Pacific with flattened body and mottled skin

   Ginglymostoma cirratum, nurse shark

   small bottom-dwelling shark of warm shallow waters on both coasts of North America and South America and from southeast Asia to Australia

   Carcharias taurus, Odontaspis taurus, sand shark, sand tiger

   shallow-water shark with sharp jagged teeth found on both sides of Atlantic; sometimes dangerous to swimmers

   Rhincodon typus, whale shark

   large spotted shark of warm surface waters worldwide; resembles a whale and feeds chiefly on plankton

   cat shark

   small bottom-dwelling sharks with cat-like eyes; found along continental slopes

   requiem shark

   any of numerous sharks from small relatively harmless bottom-dwellers to large dangerous oceanic and coastal species

   dogfish

   any of several small sharks

   hammerhead, hammerhead shark

   medium-sized live-bearing shark with eyes at either end of a flattened hammer-shaped head; worldwide in warm waters; can be dangerous

   Squatina squatina, angel shark, angelfish, monkfish

   sharks with broad flat bodies and winglike pectoral fins but that swim the way sharks do

   crampfish, electric ray, numbfish, torpedo

   any sluggish bottom-dwelling ray of the order Torpediniformes having a rounded body and electric organs on each side of the head capable of emitting strong electric discharges

   sawfish

   primitive ray with sharp teeth on each edge of a long flattened snout

   guitarfish

   primitive tropical bottom-dwelling ray with a guitar-shaped body

   stingray

   large venomous ray with large barbed spines near the base of a thin whiplike tail capable of inflicting severe wounds

   eagle ray

   powerful free-swimming tropical ray noted for `soaring' by flapping winglike fins; usually harmless but has venomous tissue near base of the tail as in stingrays

   devilfish, manta, manta ray

   extremely large pelagic tropical ray that feeds on plankton and small fishes; usually harmless but its size make it dangerous if harpooned

   skate

   large edible rays having a long snout and thick tail with pectoral fins continuous with the head; swim by undulating the edges of the pectoral fins

   type of:

   cartilaginous fish, chondrichthian

   fishes in which the skeleton may be calcified but not ossified