SkaTES, RAYS and FISH

SKATES AND RAYS

In addition to sharks, the Class Chondrichthyes also contains a number of skates and rays.  In these animals, the pectoral fins are greatly enlarged to form "wings" that undulate gracefully during swimming, and the tail fin is reduced or absent.   Skates and rays differ from sharks in having few scales and being generally adapted for feeding on bottom-dwelling animals.  Although skates may have small teeth, those of rays are plate-like and adapted for crushing prey. 
 

Sawfish Ischyrhiza mira	Extinct Sawfish Ptychotrygon vermiculata	Eocene Sawfish Pristis sp.
Cow Nosed Rays Brachyrhizodus wichitaensis Rhombodus laevis		Eagle Ray Myliobatis sp.

Guitarfish Rhinobatos casieri		Guitarfish Pseudohypolophus

	Ratfish Ischyodus subclass Holocephali

THE BONEY FISH

The bony fish belong to the Class Osteichthyes, unlike sharks, skates and rays,
members of this Class posse true boney skeleton.
 

Anomoeodus phaseolus	Saber Toothed Herring Enchodus petrosus	Saber Toothed Herring Enchodus gladiolus Encohdus ferox

The Boney Fish Misc. Fossils	Bonefish Paralbula casei