Myliobatiformes



Myliobatiformes is one of the four orders of batoids, cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. They were formerly included in the order Rajiformes, but more recent phylogenetic studies have shown the myliobatiforms to be a monophyletic group, and its more derived members evolved their highly flattened shapes independently of the skates.

Classification
Nelson's Fishes of the World arranges the Myliobatiformes as:


 * Suborder Platyrhinoidei
 * Family Platyrhinidae (thornbacks)
 * Suborder Zanobatoidei
 * Family Zanobatidae (panrays)
 * Suborder Myliobatoidei (stingrays)
 * Superfamily Hexatrygonoidea
 * Family Hexatrygonidae (sixgill stingray)
 * Superfamily Urolophoidea
 * Family Plesiobatidae (deepwater stingray)
 * Family Urolophidae (round stingrays)
 * Superfamily Urotrygonoidea
 * Family Urotrygonidae (American round stingrays)
 * Superfamily Dasyatoidea
 * Genus †Lessiniabatis (fossil)
 * Family Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays)
 * Family Potamotrygonidae (river stingrays)
 * Family Gymnuridae (butterfly rays)
 * Family †Dasyomyliobatidae (fossil)
 * Family Myliobatidae (eagle rays)
 * Subfamily Myliobatinae (eagle rays)
 * Subfamily Mobulinae (manta rays, devil rays)
 * Subfamily Rhinopterinae (cownose rays)
 * Family †Rhombodontidae (fossil)

The family Aetobatidae is recognised by some authorities. It contains the genus Aetobatus, which is otherwise part of Myliobatinae.

The families Myliobatidae and Rhombodontidae are sometimes grouped in their own superfamily, Myliobatoidea.