Family Rhincodontidae Müller and Henle 1839 (whale shark)
Chondrichthyes - Orectolobiformes
Parent taxon: Orectolobiformes according to D. J. Cicimurri and J. L. Knight 2009
Sister taxa: Acanthoscyllium, Akaimia, Almascyllium, Annea, Brachaeluridae, Brachaelurus, Cretorectolobus, Crossorhinidae, Dorsetoscyllium, Eostegostoma, Ginglymostomatidae, Hemiscylliidae, Heterophorcynus, Megachasmidae, Orectolobidae, Orectoloboides, Orectolobus, Ornatoscyllium, Pararhincodon, Parascylliidae, Phorcynis
Subtaxa: Palaeorhincodon, Rhincodon
Ecology: nektonic suspension feeder