Order RAJIFORMES

Museums

Regional Maps

External Links

Introduction

Some workers recognise a single Order Rajiformes for the skates and rays (Batoidei). Nelson (2006) recognised four main groups as separate orders, placing the Rhinobatidae in the Rajiformes with the skates and rays. Other authors recognised Rhinobatidae as separate from the Rajiformes placing it in the Rhinobatiformes (Compagno & Last 1999, Serena 2005, Ebert & Compagno 2007). Following recent phylogenetic studies (Last et al. 2016, Naylor et al. 2016) the Rhinobatidae remain separate to the skates and rays but are now placed in the Rhinopristiformes, see the introduction to that order for further details. The family classification within the order follows Naylor et al. 2016. Three families are known from Australia and all are morphologically very similar differing mainly in internal anatomy and pelvic fin structure.

Compagno (1973), Nishida (1990) and McEachran & Dunn (1998) discussed relationships.

The group occurs worldwide in marine and estuarine environments to marine environments to depths of over 3000 m. Some species occur in freshwater.

General References

Compagno, L.J.V. 1973. Interrelationships of living elasmobranchs. Journal of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 53(suppl. 1): 15-61 pls 1-2

Ebert, D.A. & Compagno, L.J.V. 2007. Biodiversity and systematics of skates (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes: Rajoidei). Environmental Biology of Fishes 80(2-3): 111-124

Last, P.R. 1994. Families Torpedinidae, Rajiidae, Rhinobatidae. pp. 154-172 figs 132-149 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Canberra : CSIRO Australia 513 pp. 84 pls.

Last, P.R. & Stevens, J.D. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Collingwood : CSIRO Publishing Australia 2, 550 pp.

McEachran, J.D. & Dunn, K.A. 1998. Phylogenetic analysis of skates, a morphologically conservative clade of elasmobranchs (Chondrichthyes: Rajidae). Copeia 1998(2): 271-290

Nelson, J.S. 1984. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 523 pp. figs.

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 601 pp.

Nishida, K. 1990. Phylogeny of the suborder Myliobatidoidei. Memoirs of the Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University 37(1-2): 1-108

Serena, F. 2005. Field Identification Guide to the Sharks and Rays of the Mediterranean and Black Sea. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. Rome : Food and Argiculture Organization of the United Nations 97 pp.

History of changes