Order Summary for Myliobatiformes

  Main Ref
:
  Order
:
Myliobatiformes stingrays
  Class
:
Elasmobranchii
  Sister Order
:
Torpediniformes 50 M years
  Ref.
:
 | 
  First Fossil Record
:
  Occurs in
:
Marine
Fresh
Brackish
  Remark
:
Gill openings ventral; anterior edge of the greatly enlarged pectoral fin attached to side of head, anterior to the gill openings; anal fin absent; eyes and spiracles on dorsal surface; anterior vertebrae fused to form a synarcual; suprascapulae of pectoral girdles joined dorsally over vertebral column and articulating with column of synarcual or fused with synarcual; nictitating membrane absent, cornea attached directly to skin around the eyes; body generally strongly depressed; jaws protrusible in most; teeth pavementlike; in most, water for breathing taken in chiefly through the spiracle rather than the mouth (except for those living off the bottom); most give birth to live young (some have eggs encased in a horny capsule); the snout may function as an electroreceptive organ (as may be true for all elasmobranchs).
  Class etymology
:
Greek eulanein, elasmos = metal beaten out + Greek brangchia = gills. Ref. 45335.
  Order etymology
:
Greek, mylo = mill + Greek, + Greek, batis,-idos = a ray (Raja sp.) (Ref. 45335). forma = shape (Ref. 45335).
  Families
:

Ref.
[ e.g. 9948]                       
Glossary
                    [ e.g. cephalopods]

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