skwāˈlȯidēə noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Squalus + -oidea
1. : a suborder of Pleurotremata comprising those sharks (as the spiny dogfishes) that have a compressed or rounded body but in some respects (as in adaptation to bottom-dwelling habits) approach the skates and rays — compare galeoidea , notidanoidea
2. in some classifications : a suborder or other division of elasmobranch fishes comprising the typical sharks — compare squatina