Phylum Chordata Bateson, 1885 - chordates Subphylum Vertebrata Cuvier, 1812 - vertebrates Superclass Pisces Linnaeus, 1758 - fishes Chondrichthyes Huxley, 1880 - cartilaginous fishes Family Rhincodontidae Müller & Henle, 1841 - whale sharks Genus Rhincodon Smith, 1828 Rhincodon typus Smith, 1828 - whale shark