In September 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed 1245 vulnerable fish species. [1] Of all evaluated fish species, 8.1% are listed as vulnerable. The IUCN also lists eight fish subspecies as vulnerable.
Of the subpopulations of fishes evaluated by the IUCN, 18 species subpopulations have been assessed as vulnerable.
For a species to be assessed as vulnerable to extinction the best available evidence must meet quantitative criteria set by the IUCN designed to reflect "a high risk of extinction in the wild". Endangered and critically endangered species also meet the quantitative criteria of vulnerable species, and are listed separately. See: List of endangered fishes, List of critically endangered fishes. Vulnerable, endangered and critically endangered species are collectively referred to as threatened species by the IUCN.
Additionally 3191 fish species (21% of those evaluated) are listed as data deficient, meaning there is insufficient information for a full assessment of conservation status. As these species typically have small distributions and/or populations, they are intrinsically likely to be threatened, according to the IUCN. [2] While the category of data deficient indicates that no assessment of extinction risk has been made for the taxa, the IUCN notes that it may be appropriate to give them "the same degree of attention as threatened taxa, at least until their status can be assessed." [3]
This is a complete list of vulnerable fish species and subspecies evaluated by the IUCN. Species and subspecies which have vulnerable subpopulations (or stocks) are indicated.
Chondrichthyes includes sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish. There are 121 species and eight subpopulations of cartilaginous fish assessed as vulnerable.
Species
Subpopulations
There are 74 species and one subpopulation in the order Rajiformes assessed as vulnerable.
Species
Subpopulations
Species
Subpopulations
Species
Subpopulations
There are 1114 species, eight subspecies, and four subpopulations of ray-finned fish assessed as vulnerable.
Includes sturgeons and paddlefishes.
Species
Subspecies
Species
Subpopulations
There are 85 species and three subspecies of toothcarp assessed as vulnerable.
Species
Subspecies
Cypriniformes includes carps, minnows, loaches and relatives. There are 298 species and one subspecies in the order Cypriniformes assessed as vulnerable.
Species
Subspecies
Includes sticklebacks and relatives.
Species
Subpopulations
Includes freshwater smelts and allies.
There are 89 catfish species assessed as vulnerable.
There are 405 species, one subspecies, and one subpopulation in the order Perciformes assessed as vulnerable.
Species
Subspecies
Species
Subpopulations
Species
Subspecies
Includes the pipefishes and seahorses.
Species
Subspecies
The haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus Haplochromis plus a number of closely related genera such as Aulonocara, Astatotilapia, and Chilotilapia. They are endemic to eastern, southern and northern Africa, except for Astatotilapia flaviijosephi in the Middle East. A common name in a scientific context is East African cichlids – while they are not restricted to that region, they are the dominant Cichlidae there. This tribe was extensively studied by Ethelwynn Trewavas, who made major reviews in 1935 and 1989, at the beginning and at the end of her career in ichthyology. Even today, numerous new species are being described each year.
The mangrove whipray or whitetail stingray, is a species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae. It is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea to northern Australia and Micronesia. A benthic inhabitant of shallow inshore waters, juvenile mangrove whiprays favor mangrove and estuarine habitats, while adults favor sandy to rocky areas in lagoons and coral reefs. This species can be identified by its thick, oval pectoral fin disc that is dark gray above with numerous white flecks, and by its relatively short, whip-like tail that is white past the stinging spine. It grows up to 1.4 m (4.6 ft) across.
The freshwater whipray is a little-known species of stingray in the family Dasyatidae, found in a number of large rivers and associated estuaries in northern Australia. Until recently, this species was regarded as a regional subpopulation of the similar-looking but much larger giant freshwater stingray of Southeast Asia. Typically reaching 1 m (3.3 ft) across, the freshwater whipray has a distinctively shaped, rounded pectoral fin disc, a projecting snout, and a thin tail without fin folds. It is plain brown above and white below with dark marginal bands. It may occasionally travel onto land and can "breathe" out of water for up to 7 minutes. The freshwater whipray is an active hunter of small fishes and shrimps, and does not currently face substantial conservation threats.
In August 2018, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 6086 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations in the Animalia kingdom.
As of 19 August 2018, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species has identified 3,005 critically endangered species, subspecies, stocks and subpopulations in the Animalia kingdom.
As of August 2023, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 8509 data deficient species in the Chordata phylum.
On 19 August 2018, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 4584 endangered species, subspecies, stocks and subpopulations.