5. Sharks (superorderSelachimorpha) are a type of fish with a full cartilaginousskeleton and a highly streamlined body. They respire with the use of five to seven gill slits. Sharks have a covering of dermal denticles that protect their skin from damage and parasites and improve fluid dynamics. They have several sets of replaceable teeth.[1] Sharks range in size from the small dwarf lanternshark, Etmopterusperryi, a deep sea species of only 17 centimetres (7 in) in length, to the whale shark, Rhincodontypus, the largest fish, which grows to a length of approximately 12 metres (39 ft) and which feeds only on plankton, squid, and small fish through filter feeding.