Question

Why are sharks in class Chondrichthyes and not Osteichthyes?

Answer 1

Chondrichthyes:

1. Pisces are divided into two classes: Chondrichthyes- Cartilaginous fishes, Osteichthyes- Bony fishes
2. Chondrichthyes are subdivided into two subclasses: Elasmobranchii- Sharks and rays, skates, sawfishes, Holocephali- Chimaeras, also known as ghost sharks.
3. Basically the sharks belong to this class of the Chondrichthyes and it will just differ from the Osteichthyes just because of their skeleton is cartilaginous.
4. And the species in this Chondrichthyes class will have paired fins, also a two-chambered heart and then a pair of nostrils.
5. A class of jawed fishes with a cartilaginous skeleton is known as the Chondrichthyes.
6. Most of them are marine creatures.
7. Another class of fish is bone fishes or Osteichthyes.
8. Given that they have jaws, fishes in the class Chondrichthyes are categorized under the division Gnathostomata.