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 that the myliobatiforms are a monophyletic group, and that its more derived members evolved their highly flattened shapes independently of the skates.

Classification
Nelson's 2006 Fishes of the World arranges the Myliobatiformes as follows:


 * Suborder Platyrhinoidei
 * Family Platyrhinidae (thornbacks)
 * Suborder Zanobatoidei
 * Family Zanobatidae (panrays)
 * Suborder Myliobatoidei
 * Superfamily Hexatrygonoidea
 * Family Hexatrygonidae (sixgill stingrays)
 * Superfamily Urolophoidea
 * Family Plesiobatidae (deepwater stingrays)
 * Family Urolophidae (round stingrays)
 * Superfamily Urotrygonoidea
 * Family Urotrygonidae (American round stingrays)
 * Superfamily Dasyatoidea
 * Family Dasyatidae (whiptail stingrays)
 * Family Potamotrygonidae (river stingrays)
 * Family Gymnuridae (butterfly rays)
 * Family Myliobatidae (eagle rays, manta rays)