About Lesson
Class 1. Chondrichthys or Elasmobranchi
- Generally found in seawater and includes the largest fishes that over live.
- The exoskeleton is in the form of placoid scales.
- The endoskeleton is cartilaginous (with some calcification but no ossification in living forms).
- Placoid scales on the body or the skin are naked.
- There are 5 to 7 pairs of gills and gill clefts without operculum.
- There is no air bladder.
- A cloaca is present.
- External gill openings are separate. They are not covered by operculum.
- Heterocercal caudal fin is seen.
- Males show claspers for copulation.