The Triakidae or houndsharks are a family of ground sharks, consisting of about 40 species in nine genera. In some classifications, the family is split into two subfamilies, with the genera Mustelus, Scylliogaleus and Triakis in the subfamily Triakinae, and the remainders in the subfamily Galeorhininae.

Houndsharks
Temporal range: Paleocene–Recent
Leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Order: Carcharhiniformes
Suborder: Carcharhinoidei
Family: Triakidae
J. E. Gray, 1851
Subfamilies and genera[1]

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Houndsharks are distinguished by possessing two large, spineless dorsal fins, an anal fin and oval eyes with nictitating eyelids. They are small to medium in size, ranging from 37 to 220 cm (1.21 to 7.22 ft) in adult length. They are found throughout the world in warm and temperate waters, where they feed on small fish and invertebrates on the seabed and in midwater.[2]

Genera

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Houndsharks are classified into subfamilies and genera as follows:[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Triakidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  2. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Family Triakidae". FishBase. January 2009 version.