Phylum Chordata Bateson, 1885 - chordates Subphylum Vertebrata Cuvier, 1812 - vertebrates Class Chondrichthyes Huxley, 1880 - cartilaginous fishes Order Orectolobiformes Compagno, 1973 - carpet sharks Family Rhincodontidae Müller & Henle, 1841 - whale sharks Genus Rhincodon Smith, 1828 Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828 - whale shark