Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Which Sharks and Rays are at Risk of Extinction?Loading...
The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List was created to gather information on animals, plants and fungi all around the world, keep inventory of their conservation status, and determine their risk of extinction.
What is extinction?
Risk of extinction
Extinction is when all the members of a species die out and there are none left - like the megaladon!
Elasmo is going to introduce you to you some of the most threatened elasmobranchs in the world - Critically Endangered ones!
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Scientific name: Carcharhinus longimanus
Location: Tropical and subtropical open ocean waters, e.g. the Caribbean
Size: Typically up to 3.5m
Fun fact: This species is sometimes known as "the shipwreck shark", as they were a concern for survivors of wrecked ships and downed planes during World Wars I and II
IUCN Red List: Once a very abundant species, the global population has declined by at least 80%,
giving them the conservation status of
Critically Endangered
Location: Tropical and subtropical open ocean waters, e.g. the Caribbean
Size: Typically up to 3.5m
Fun fact: This species is sometimes known as "the shipwreck shark", as they were a concern for survivors of wrecked ships and downed planes during World Wars I and II
IUCN Red List: Once a very abundant species, the global population has declined by at least 80%,
giving them the conservation status of
Critically Endangered
Largetooth Sawfish
Scientific name: Pristis pristis
Location: Once found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters
Size: Adults can reach up to 6 - 7 m
Fun fact: The rostrum (saw) can be between 19-28% of the total length of an individual!
IUCN Red List: To try combat their Critically Endangered status, the largetooth sawfish is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which
bans their international trade
Location: Once found worldwide in tropical and subtropical waters
Size: Adults can reach up to 6 - 7 m
Fun fact: The rostrum (saw) can be between 19-28% of the total length of an individual!
IUCN Red List: To try combat their Critically Endangered status, the largetooth sawfish is listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which
bans their international trade