Sharks and Rays: Underwater Predators

Children's Literature

This volume in the "Animals in Order" series covers cartilaginous fishes. It begins by describing the difference between sharks and rays and the special traits of these animals. It then explains the scientific classification of living things and how sharks and rays fit into this system. The next four sections describe typical shark and ray species that live in four major habitats: coastal sharks and rays, bottom-dwelling sharks and rays, open sea sharks and rays, and deep-sea sharks and rays. The volume concludes with a chapter on shark and ray conservation. Sharks and Rays includes a table of contents, a glossary, a list of further resources, and an index. Full-color photos illustrate the text. The layout is simple and attractive. The book is flawed by several glaring errors in the explanation of taxonomy. The author describes all living things as belonging to one of five kingdoms, although scientists have revamped the "tree of life" into a new organization with three domains. A diagram in the same section shows humans and mice as belonging to the class Chondrichthyes, along with sharks, although they actually belong in the class Mammalia. 2002, Scholastic, Turner