A subclass of fishes, comprising the sharks, the rays, and the Chimæra. The skeleton is mainly cartilaginous.

sharks; rays; dogfishes; skates

Elasmobranchs are cartilaginous fish that have an upper jaw that is not fused to the braincase, no swim bladder, an advanced electroreceptive system, a spiracle, skin with placoid scales, teeth that are modified placoid scales, and 5-7 separate slit-like gill openings. These include the 600 species of sharks, skates, and rays.