Thornbacks (Platyrhinidae)

General data
- Main name: Thornbacks
Classification
- Order: Torpediniformes - Electric rays
- Class: Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays
- Superclass: Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes
Description
The Platyrhinidae are a family of rays, commonly known as thornbacks due to their dorsal rows of large thorns. They resemble guitarfishes in shape. Though traditionally classified with stingrays, molecular evidence suggests they are more closely related to electric rays in the order Torpediniformes. Genus Platyrhina J. P. Müller & Henle, 1838 Platyrhina hyugaensis Iwatsuki, Miyamoto & Nakaya, 2011 (Hyuga fanray) Platyrhina sinensis Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801 (fanray) Platyrhina tangi Iwatsuki, J. Zhang & Nakaya, 2011 (yellow-spotted fanray) Genus Platyrhinoidis Garman 1881 Platyrhinoidis triseriata D. S. Jordan & Gilbert, 1880 (thornback guitarfish)