Taxonomy of Finfish (1+2)

Echinorhinus brucus (Bonnaterre,1788)

Classification

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Chondrichthyes

Subclass : Elasmobranchii

Order Squaliformes

Family : Echinorhinidae- Brumblesharks

Genera : Echinorhinusbrucus Species :E. brucus

Key character used for the identification of the order Squaliformes

• Two dorsal fin
• No anal fin
• Five gill slits
• Spiracle present
• Nictitating lower eyelid absent.

Key character used for the identification of the family Echinorhinidae: Bramblesharks

• Both dorsal fins small and spineless
• First dorsal fin originate behind pelvic fin origin
• Caudal fin without subterminal notch.
• Large, plate like denticles scattered sparsely overthe body and armed with one or more thorn like cusps.
• 5 gill slits, all anterior to pectoral fins, the fifth abruptly elongated at lower end;
• Spiracles smaller in size; well behind eyes
• Pelvic fin much larger than second dorsal;
• Anal fin absent;

Key character used for the identification of the genus Echinorhinusbrucus

• Only one species is available in the family around Indian region.
• Denticles on body few, irregulary distributed, relatively large, not stellate, some fused into compound plates with multiple cusps