Carpet shark
Parascyllidae (collared carpet sharks)
Brachaeluridae (blind sharks)
Orectolobidae (wobbegongs)
Hemiscylliidae (bamboo sharks)
Ginglymostomatidae (nurse sharks)
Stegostomatidae (zebra shark)
Rhincodontidae (whale shark)
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The order
Orectolobiformes, also collectively known as the
carpet sharks because most have carpet-like patterned markings, includes a number of familiar types of
sharks, such as the
nurse sharks and
whale shark, as well as some unusual species, such as the blind shark. The order is small, with only about 34 species in seven familiies.
Carpet sharks have two
dorsal fins, without spines, and a small mouth that is forward of the eyes. Many have
barbels and small gill slits, with the fifth slit overlapping the fourth. The upper lobe of the
caudal fin tends to be mostly in line with the body, while the lower lobe is poorly developed, except in the case of the whale shark. While many in the order are small, the whale shark is the largest living fish.