Myliobatiformes

Myliobatiformes
Atlantic stingray (Dasyatis sabina)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Chondrichthyes
Subclass:	Elasmobranchii
Superorder:	Batoidea
Order:	Myliobatiformes Compagno, 1973

Myliobatiformes is one of the four orders of batoids, cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They were formerly included in the order Rajiformes, but more recent phylogenetic studies have shown that the myliobatiforms are a monophyletic group, and that its more derived members evolved their highly flattened shapes independently of the skates.^[1]

Classification

Nelson's 2006 Fishes of the World arranges the Myliobatiformes as follows:

• Suborder Platyrhinoidei
  • Family Platyrhinidae (thornbacks)
• Suborder Zanobatoidei
  • Family Zanobatidae (panrays)
• Suborder Myliobatoidei
  • Superfamily Hexatrygonoidea
    • Family Hexatrygonidae (sixgill stingrays)
  • Superfamily Urolophoidea
    • Family Plesiobatidae (deepwater stingrays)
    • Family Urolophidae (round stingrays)
  • Superfamily Urotrygonoidea
    • Family Urotrygonidae (American round stingrays)
  • Superfamily Dasyatoidea
    • Family Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays)
    • Family Potamotrygonidae (river stingrays)
    • Family Gymnuridae (butterfly rays)
    • Family Myliobatidae (eagle rays, manta rays)

References

1. ^ Nelson, J.S. (2006). Fishes of the World (fourth ed.). John Wiley. pp. 69–82. ISBN 0471250317.