List of vulnerable fishes

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Circle frame.svg6 extinct in the wild fish species (0.04%)455 critically endangered fish species (3.0%)643 endangered fish species (4.2%)1245 vulnerable fish species (8.2%)548 near threatened fish species (3.6%)9131 least concern fish species (60%)3191 data deficient fish species (21%)
Fish species (IUCN, 2016-2)
  • 15,219 extant species have been evaluated
  • 12,028 of those are fully assessed [lower-alpha 1]
  • 9679 are not threatened at present [lower-alpha 2]
  • 2343 to 5534 are threatened [lower-alpha 3]
  • 71 to 158 are extinct or extinct in the wild:
    • 65 extinct (EX) species [lower-alpha 4]
    • 6 extinct in the wild (EW)
    • 87 possibly extinct [CR(PE)]
    • 0 possibly extinct in the wild [CR(PEW)]

  1. excludes data deficient evaluations.
  2. NT, LR/cd, LC.
  3. Threatened comprises CR, EN and VU. Upper estimate additionally includes DD.
  4. Chart omits extinct (EX) species
Vulnerable (VU) species are considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Status iucn3.1 VU.svg
Vulnerable (VU) species are considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

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.

Contents

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.

Lobe-finned fishes

Cartilaginous fishes

Chondrichthyes includes sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish. There are 121 species and eight subpopulations of cartilaginous fish assessed as vulnerable.

Angelsharks

Mackerel sharks

Species

Subpopulations

Rays and skates

There are 74 species and one subpopulation in the order Rajiformes assessed as vulnerable.

Rhynchobatids

Guitarfish species

Whiptail stingrays

Narcinids

Species

Subpopulations

  • Apron ray (Discopyge tschudii) (1 subpopulation)

Skates

Skates

Other Rajiformes species

Ground sharks

Species

Subpopulations

Carpet sharks

Squaliformes

Species

Subpopulations

Chimaeras

Lampreys

Ray-finned fishes

There are 1114 species, eight subspecies, and four subpopulations of ray-finned fish assessed as vulnerable.

Acipenseriformes

Includes sturgeons and paddlefishes.

Species

Subspecies

Salmoniformes

Species

Subpopulations

Silversides

Toothcarps

There are 85 species and three subspecies of toothcarp assessed as vulnerable.

Goodeids

Pupfish species

Aplocheilids

Rivulids

Nothobranchiids

Species

Subspecies

Poeciliids

Fundulids

Cypriniformes

Cypriniformes includes carps, minnows, loaches and relatives. There are 298 species and one subspecies in the order Cypriniformes assessed as vulnerable.

Hillstream loaches

True loaches

Cyprinids

Species

Subspecies

Suckers

Gasterosteiformes

Includes sticklebacks and relatives.

Species

Subpopulations

Osmeriformes

Includes freshwater smelts and allies.

Catfishes

There are 89 catfish species assessed as vulnerable.

Ictalurids

Sisorids

Loach catfishes

Claroteids

Airbreathing catfishes

Loricariids

Mochokids

Bagrids

Other catfish species

Batrachoidiformes

Perciformes

There are 405 species, one subspecies, and one subpopulation in the order Perciformes assessed as vulnerable.

Gouramis

Cichlids

Species

Subspecies

Percids

Epinephelids

Species

Subpopulations

Gobies

Sparids

Sand stargazers

Sciaenids

Labrisomids

Serranids

Chaenopsids

Combtooth blennies

Wrasses

Threefin blennies

Other Perciformes species

Beloniformes

Synbranchiformes

Osteoglossiformes

Mormyrids

Gobiesociformes

Characiformes

Species

Subspecies

Syngnathiformes

Includes the pipefishes and seahorses.

Clupeiformes

Species

Subspecies

Scorpaeniformes

Ophidiiformes

Tetraodontiformes

Other ray-finned fish species

Hagfishes

See also

Related Research Articles

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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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangrove whipray</span> Species of cartilaginous fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freshwater whipray</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IUCN Red List endangered species (Animalia)</span>

On 19 August 2018, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 4584 endangered species, subspecies, stocks and subpopulations.

References

  1. "IUCN Red List version 2016-2". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  2. "Limitations of the Data". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  3. "2001 Categories & Criteria (version 3.1)". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved 11 January 2016.