Angelshark

Squatina squatina

The Angelshark is an ambush predator, relying on camouflage to surprise its prey.

Pig-nosed Turtle

Carettochelys insculpta

The pig-nosed turtle is prehistoric. This turtle diverged from all other species more than 140 million years ago.

Chinese Giant Salamander

Andrias davidianus

The largest amphibian in the world, this salamander can grow to the size of an adult human.

Pillar Coral

Dendrogyra cylindrus

Pillar coral possesses one of the most distinct morphologies of any coral.

Pygmy Three-toed Sloth

Bradypus pygmaeus

The smallest of the all the sloth species, the pygmy sloth was only described in 2001

Philippine Eagle

Pithecophaga jefferyi

The Philippine Eagle is one of the world’s largest, most powerful birds of prey.

TOP EDGE SHARKS AND RAYS

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Largetooth Sawfish

Pristis pristis

The largetooth sawfish not only is number 1 on the EDGE Shark list, but also has the highest-ranking score of any EDGE species!

Conservation Attention

Good

Pristis pristis - Large Sawtooth Pristis pristis - Large Sawtooth

Green Sawfish

Pristis zijsron

The green sawfish is the largest of all existing sawfishes, reaching up to 7.3 meters in length and its teethed rostra accounts for almost one third of that length!

Conservation Attention

Low

Green sawfish, Pristis zijsron Green sawfish, Pristis zijsron

Smalltooth Sawfish

Pristis pectinata

Sawfish are characterised by their large and unique saw-like rostra. The smalltooth sawfish has a narrower saw-like rostrum and is a smaller size than its relative the largetooth sawfish.

Conservation Attention

Good

Pristis pectinata, Smalltooth Sawfish Pristis pectinata, Smalltooth Sawfish

Narrow Sawfish

Anoxypristis cuspidata

The narrow sawfish is also known as the knifetooth or pointed sawfish. The narrow sawfish is one of the smaller sawfish species, only reaching 4.7 m in length!

Conservation Attention

Good

Narrow Sawfish ©Amybruninganimation.com Narrow Sawfish ©Amybruninganimation.com

Angelshark

Squatina squatina

The Angelshark is a distinctive shark species found in the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. It is a “flat shark” (one that is dorsoventrally flattened) and an ambush predator, relying on camouflage to surprise its prey.

Conservation Attention

Good

Angelshark, Squatina squatina Angelshark, Squatina squatina

Sawback Angelshark

Squatina aculeata

The sawback angelshark is the only species of angel shark with spines present down its back during the adult phase, a feature that gives this species its common name.

Conservation Attention

Good

Sawback Angelshark ©Amybruninganimation.com Sawback Angelshark ©Amybruninganimation.com

Dwarf Sawfish

Pristis clavata

The dwarf sawfish is also known as the Queensland sawfish and is the smallest of all the sawfish species reaching just over 3m in length.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Dwarf sawfish, Pristis clavata Dwarf sawfish, Pristis clavata

Brazilian Guitarfish

Pseudobatos horkelii

Previously known as Rhinobatus horkelii, the Brazilian guitarfish displays an interesting reproduction mode by keeping embryos dormant when they are in cool deep waters for many months until they ascend to shallow waters.

Conservation Attention

Low

Longhead Eagle Ray

Aetobatus flagellum

The longhead eagle ray is an uncommon species, of which little is known. This eagle ray has a comparatively long, beak-like snout, and a whip-like tail, three times as long as its body.

Conservation Attention

Low

Longhead eagle ray, Aetobatus flagellum Longhead eagle ray, Aetobatus flagellum

Ornate Eagle Ray

Aetomylaeus vespertilio

The largest of the three species in the genus, the ornate eagle ray is an uncommon ray that has not been seen in great numbers since the species was described in 1852.

Conservation Attention

Low

Ornate eagle ray, Aetomylaeus vespertilio Ornate eagle ray, Aetomylaeus vespertilio

Ornate Sleeper Ray

Electrolux addisoni

The ornate sleeper ray is the only species of its genus (Electrolux) and was only formally described in 2007! It was named after a “well known” brand of vacuum due to its electrogenic properties and forceful sucking action when it feeds.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Ornate Sleeper Ray ©Amybruninganimation.com Ornate Sleeper Ray ©Amybruninganimation.com

Caribbean Electric Ray

Narcine bancroftii

Caribbean electric rays, like all electric rays, have the ability to produce an electrical charge to deter predators or stun prey!

Conservation Attention

Low

Caribbean electric ray, Narcine bancroftii Caribbean electric ray, Narcine bancroftii

Smoothback Angelshark

Squatina oculata

The smoothback angelshark is the smallest of the angel shark species and lives in the temperate waters of the Mediterranean Sea and Eastern Atlantic Ocean.

Conservation Attention

Low

Mottled Eagle Ray

Aetomylaeus maculatus

Little is known about the ecology of the mottled eagle ray such as its reproductive biology, maximum age and growth rate, which is essential to conserve the species.

Conservation Attention

Low

Natal Shyshark

Haploblepharus kistnasamyi

The natal shyshark is one of many poorly known species of South African catsharks.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Natal Shyshark, Haploblepharus kistnasamyi Natal Shyshark, Haploblepharus kistnasamyi

Winghead Shark

Eusphyra blochii

Also known as the slender hammerhead, the winghead shark is named after its exceptional cephalofoil hammer-shaped head which can be almost as wide as half its body length.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Whale Shark

Rhincodon typus

The whale shark is the worlds largest living shark and the largest living fish in the sea. The largest individual recorded was 20m in length and weighed 42 tonnes! This charismatic gentle giant attracts researchers and divers alike.

Conservation Attention

Good

Whale shark, Rhincodon typus Whale shark, Rhincodon typus

Zebra Shark

Stegostoma fasciatum

The zebra shark gets its name from the colouration of the juveniles, which have black and white striped markings. As they mature their colouration changes from stripes to spots and that is why they are also known as leopard shark!

Conservation Attention

Low

Zebra Shark, Stegostoma fasciatum Zebra Shark, Stegostoma fasciatum

Sand Tiger Shark

Carcharias taurus

The sand tiger shark is a large coastal species, popular in aquariums due to its “scary” protruding teeth and its tolerance in captivity.

Conservation Attention

Good

Sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus Sand tiger shark, Carcharias taurus

Bigeye Thresher Shark

Alopias superciliosus

Distinguishable from the two other species of thresher sharks, the pelagic and the common thresher, by its namesake – a pair of extremely large eyes used to detect prey in low light.

Conservation Attention

Good

Bigeye thresher shark (Alopias supersiliosus) Bigeye thresher shark (Alopias supersiliosus)

Bowmouth Guitarfish

Rhina ancylostoma

The bowmouth guitarfish’s mouth undulates like a longbow. Although this is a species of ray, it is also known as the mud skate or shark ray across its range.

Conservation Attention

Low

Bowmouth guitarfish, Rhina ancylostoma Bowmouth guitarfish, Rhina ancylostoma

Great Hammerhead

Sphyrna mokarran

The iconic great hammerhead is the largest of 8 species of hammerhead sharks from the genus Sphyrna, reaching up to 6m. It is one of the most threatened species of hammerheads due to the high value of its large dorsal fin.

Conservation Attention

Low

Great hammerhead, Sphyrna mokarran Great hammerhead, Sphyrna mokarran

Basking Shark

Cetorhinus maximus

The basking shark is the second biggest fish in the sea, after the whale shark. It is the only extant species in the family Cetorhinidae. As an enormous filter feeding species it can be encountered swimming slowly or “basking” near the surface whilst ram-feeding on plankton in cold, coastal waters.

Conservation Attention

Good

Basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus Basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus

Bluegray Carpetshark

Brachaelurus colcloughi

Also known as the Colclough’s shark, it is a rare, nocturnal species found off the coast of Eastern Australia. It was first discovered in 1908 by scientist James Ogilby who named the shark after his friend, John Colclough, and since then it has only been recorded 50 times!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

White Skate

Rostroraja alba

The white skate is one of the largest European skate species, reaching lengths of 2m. It lives on rocky and sandy bottoms up to a depth of up to 400m.

Conservation Attention

Low

Snaggletooth Shark

Hemipristis elongata

The snaggletooth shark, also known as the fossil shark, is a member of the weasel shark family, Hemigaleidae, and is the only extant species in the genus Hemipristis.

Conservation Attention

Low

Daisy Stingray

Fontitrygon margarita

The daisy stingray is a coastal ray inhabiting part of the west coast of Africa. Once common, it is now rarely recorded in markets and landings.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Daisy stingray, Fontitrygon margarita Daisy stingray, Fontitrygon margarita

Blackchin Guitarfish

Glaucostegus cemiculus

Blackchin guitarfish are a large species of guitarfish found in the Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. Blackchin guitarfish bury themselves in the oceans sandy bottom and were once a daily sight at fish markets in Southern Europe during the 18th century.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna lewini

The scalloped hammerhead shark is characterised by having a notch in the centre of its hammer-shaped head.

Conservation Attention

Low

Scallop hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini Scallop hammerhead, Sphyrna lewini

Shortnose Guitarfish

Zapteryx brevirostris

Shortnose guitarfish are endemic to the coasts of southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. It is an olive- brown colour with a heart shaped disc and is named after its short snout.

Conservation Attention

Low

Shortnose guitarfish, Zapteryx brevirostris Shortnose guitarfish, Zapteryx brevirostris

Roughnose Stingray

Pastinachus solocirostris

The roughnose stingray is a small species of ray found only off the coast of Malaysian Borneo and Indonesia, named after the unusually rough texture of its snout. It lives in mangrove estuaries and turbid coastal habitats.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Harrisson’s Dogfish

Centrophorus harrissoni

Also known as the Dumb Gulper Shark, this species is found off the coasts of Australia and New Zealand in deep sea waters.

Conservation Attention

Medium

Sharpfin Houndshark

Triakis acutipinna

The sharpfin houndshark is an extremely rare shark, known from only two specimens.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Sharpfin Houndshark, Triakis acutipinna Sharpfin Houndshark, Triakis acutipinna

Fanray

Platyrhina sinensis

The fanray is a little-known species of ray found off the coast of East Asia, with white or yellow tipped thorns along its tail.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Fanray, Platyrhina_sinensis Fanray, Platyrhina_sinensis

Whitespotted Izak

Holohalaelurus punctatus

The whitespotted izak, also known as the African spotted catshark, is a small endemic shark found off the coasts of South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar. Not much is known about the biology or life history of this rare species.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Honeycomb Izak

Holohalaelurus favus

The honeycomb izak is a relatively large species of catshark found off the coasts of South Africa and Mozambique. It has not been seen since the 1970s!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Spotback Skate

Atlantoraja castelnaui

The spotback skate is a large species of coastal skate found only off the coast of Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina.

Conservation Attention

Low

Spotback skate, Atlantoraja castelnaui Spotback skate, Atlantoraja castelnaui

Common Guitarfish

Rhinobatos rhinobatos

The common guitarfish occurs from the north of Spain throughout the Mediterranean coast, towards the south on the west coast of the Atlantic down to Guinea Bissau and possibly Namibia. Despite this wide range, their populations have declined over the past decades.

Conservation Attention

Low

Rhinobatos rhinobatos Common guitarfish Rhinobatos rhinobatos Common guitarfish

Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias

The great white is perhaps one of the most iconic shark species, gaining notoriety from the 1975 film, “Jaws”. Compared to other species, the great white shark is relatively well studied, however elements of its biology remain a mystery.

Conservation Attention

Good

Great White shark, Carcharodon carcharias Great White shark, Carcharodon carcharias

Longnose Marbled Whipray

Fluvitrygon oxyrhyncha

The longnose marbled whipray is an extremely rare species found in the Indo-Malay Archipelago and is only known from five specimens that are part of museum collections.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

White-edge Whipray

Himantura signifer

The white-edge whipray is a rare freshwater ray, named after the white strip around the edge of its disc. Its distribution is very patchy and limited to some river systems in Southeast Asia.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

African Wedgefish

Rhynchobatus luebberti

The African wedgefish is a large species of ray that is now very rare. It is found off the West coast of Africa, but little is known about this species and numbers are thought to have declined dramatically.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Giant Freshwater Whipray

Urogymnus polylepis

The giant freshwater whipray is, as the name suggests, a freshwater ray from Southeast Asia that inhabits large rivers and can be seen in the water margins feeding.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Kitefin Shark

Dalatias licha

The kitefin shark is a relatively common, solitary deep-water shark, capable of reaching depths of 1,800m!

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Tope Shark

Galeorhinus galeus

The tope shark is a large houndshark, and the only species in the genus Galeorhinus. It is found worldwide in temperate waters.

Conservation Attention

Low

Toper shark, Galeorhinus galeus Toper shark, Galeorhinus galeus

Porbeagle

Lamna nasus

The porbeagle is a coastal and offshore species found in temperate and cold water. It can live up to 46 years and maintain its body temperature 10°C above the surrounding water temperature!

Conservation Attention

Medium

Porbeagle, Lamna nasus Porbeagle, Lamna nasus

Longfin Mako

Isurus paucus

Very little is known about the biology and population of this elusive shark. As it names suggests their pectoral fins are quite long when compared to its closest relative the shortfin mako.

Conservation Attention

Low

Longfin mako, Isurus paucus Longfin mako, Isurus paucus

Shortfin Mako

Isurus oxyrinchus

The Shortfin Mako is the fastest swimming shark species, obtaining speeds of up to 35km/h and can jump up to 6m out of the water!

Conservation Attention

Good

Shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus Shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus

Spotted Shovelnose Ray

Aptychotrema timorensis

The spotted shovelnose ray is an extremely rare species of guitarfish found in a small area of the Timor Sea off the coast of northern Australia.

Conservation Attention

Very Low

Pelagic Thresher

Alopias pelagicus

This species has an extraordinarily long caudal fin it uses a whip to stun its prey, and distinctive prominent eyes. Although it has a circumpolar range, little is known on its biology and ecology.

Conservation Attention

Low

Pelagic Thresher, Alopias pelagicus Pelagic Thresher, Alopias pelagicus