Sharks date back 450 million years, surviving 5 mass extinctions. That’s older than the dinosaurs and even older than trees, say the experts at the Shark Trust.
A subclass of Chondrichthyes, sharks are among a group of cartilaginous fishes, known as Elasmobranchs, along with rays, skates, and chimaeras. There are over 1200 species and are incredibly diverse, with the smallest fitting in the palm of your hand and the largest bigger than a double decker bus.
We are currently living in an era where human activities have fundamentally altered our planet. We have caused global warming, extreme overfishing, and habitat loss, among other issues. Unfortunately, despite their resilience, sharks and rays are now struggling. As of 2021, over one-third of all shark and ray species are at risk of extinction.
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Sharks and rays are the second most endangered set of vertebrates (after amphibians). Despite many of these species being highly protected, this does not necessarily prevent capture and decline.
Here's our round up of the world's rarest species of sharks and rays.
Rarest sharks and rays in the world
Largetooth Sawfish
Pristis pristis
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
The largetooth sawfish is one of five species of sawfishes. Although they have shark-like bodies, they are actually a type of ray. Named after their distinctive "saws" (called rostra) – their long, flat snouts edged with teeth are a unique feature that earned them a place on our weirdest fish list.
This species is now ‘possibly extinct’ in 19 of its 60 former range states, having suffered a population reduction of 80% or more over the last three generations.
Historically targeted in commercial and small-scale fisheries, and by trophy hunters for their rostrum, illegal trade still continues. They are also highly susceptible to capture in fishing gear due to the shape of this distinctive feature.
Oceanic Whitetip
Carcharhinus longimanus
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Oceanic whitetips are famous for their huge rounded first dorsal fin and paddle-like pectoral fins, which have distinctive mottled white tips.
Once one of the most abundant open ocean shark species in tropical seas, this species has undergone severe population decline, caught globally as target and bycatch in various fisheries.
Its curious nature and preference for surface waters often render this species an easy target, even though it has broad protection, and there is more work to be done to ensure its future.
Blackchin [Giant] Guitarfish
Glaucostegus cemiculus
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
The blackchin guitarfish belongs to the same order as the largetooth sawfish, the rhinopristiformes, also known as the ‘Rhino Rays’, which are now classed as the world’s most threatened fish.
In many countries, rhino rays are prized for their both their meat and their ‘white’ fins. The blackchin guitarfish is targeted and caught as bycatch in much of its range, and has suffered steep population declines due to extensive overfishing. They do have protective legislation but enforcing and monitoring this can be a challenge.
Ganges Shark
Glyphis gangeticus
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
There is little known about this rarely seen, elusive species. The Ganges Shark is a ‘euryhaline’ species, meaning it can occupy habitats in rivers, estuaries and inshore marine areas.
Found in the western Indo-Pacific, fishing pressure, combined with increasing habitat modification across its range leaves the species with little-to-no refuge It's thought to be extinct in Pakistan, Myanmar and Borneo.
The species is so rare that between 2006 and 2016, it was only sighted once - and we are unable to find an image.
False Shark Ray
Rhynchorhina mauritaniensis
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Another one so rare we are unable to find a picture. The first specimen of the false shark ray was only collected in 1998 and it was formally described only in 2016, so there's very little information about it.
This shark’s distribution is currently only known to be the Banc d’Arguin of Mauritania in the Eastern Central Atlantic.
Heavily impacted by fisheries, despite protection within its range, this species is not likely to have any refuge from fishing given the combined effort from subsistence, artisanal, and illegal fishing coupled with the high value of its fins.
Angelshark
Squatina squatina
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
One of three species of angelshark - one of the world's weirdest sharks - present in Atlantic waters of north-east Atlantic, but the only one found in parts of the UK.
Perfectly designed for ambush, they lie on the seabed, partially covered in sand, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting passing prey, snapping up fish at high speedwith their trap-like jaws. Prey includes small bony fishes, crustaceans, squids, gastropods and clams.
Masters of camouflage, their skin is mottled with brown, grey, black, green, and often white spots. Along with their habit of burying themselves in sand, this allows them to ‘disappear’into the mud or sand undetected.
The species has undergone dramatic population declines over the past 50 years; their seabed dwelling nature leaves them highly susceptible to coastal fisheries.
Sand Tiger Shark
Carcharias taurus
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Sand tiger sharks can hover motionlessly in mid water by gulping water at the surface, trapping air in their stomachs. This also causes them to let bubbles out of their mouth…or the other end!
The sand tiger shark has one of the lowest reproductive rates of all sharks, giving birth to just two pups every 2-3 years. Only the largest pups (from the first fertilised eggs) survive.
After hatching inside each of the mother’s two uterus they’ll proceed to eat all the other eggs, and even their smaller brothers and sisters too! Until just one pup survives in each uterus. This is known as adelphophagy or uterine cannibalism. This makes the sand tiger inherently susceptible to the effects of overfishing.
Great Hammerhead
Sphyrna mokarran
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
The largest of all hammerhead shark species, the Great Hammerhead can reach lengths of up to six metres. The unique hammer-shaped head improves their manoeuvrability. Enhances their ability to detect electrical currents, a sixth sense that all sharks have. And the position of their eyes enables them to see 360°.
The population has undergone extensive reductions due to being caught globally as target and bycatch in various fisheries.
Blue Skate
Dipturus batis
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
Another one we have been unable to source pictures for, the blue skate was previously known as the common skate, which is now known to actually been two species - flapper skate and blue skate. As with all the skate family, the blue skate lays eggs and there have been eggcases recorded washed up on Cornish beaches.
Intense fishing during the 20th century caused populations to plummet around the British Isles and Ireland. As with most elasmobranchs, their slow reproductive rate makes it difficult for populations to recover and, combined with their large size, makes them easily caught in fishing gear.
Ornate Eagle Ray
Aetomylaeus vespertilio
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
One of the largest of all the eagle rays, named for the beautiful pattern on its back, it reaches a width of up to 3.5m.
The ornate eagle ray is extremely elusive and has had very few verified sightings across the Indo-West. The species has seen a population reduction likely due to bycatch in locations where there is increasing fishing activity. This, combined with its low reproductive levels, has led to the ornate eagle ray likely having undergone population reductions of 80% over the past three generations.
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About the Shark Trust
The Shark Trust is a UK-based charity that works tirelessly to safeguard the future of sharks, and their close cousins, the skates and rays, around the world. They have a vision: A future where sharks thrive within a globally healthy marine ecosystem. Established in 1997 to provide a voice for sharks, the Shark Trust has an ever-growing number of passionate supporters and together they're creating positive change for sharks around the world.