Taxon name
Hemipristis elongata
(Klunzinger, 1871)
Uploaded by
National Red List Database
Taxonomic information
Scientific name
Hemipristis elongata
(Klunzinger, 1871)
Assessed taxon level
Species
Higher level taxonomic groupings
Vertebrates
Fishes
Species authority
(Klunzinger, 1871)
Location and scope
Specific locality or subnational name or regional name
United Arab Emirates (the)
Scope (of the Assessment)
National
Countries included within the scope of the assessment
United Arab Emirates (the)
Does the assessment cover a marine EEZ area(s)?
Not_assigned
Conservation Status
Qualifying criteria (if given)
A2cd
Criteria system used
IUCN
(see Assessment details)
Assessment rationale/justification
The Snaggletooth Shark occurs throughout UAE coastal waters and is uncommon there and in surrounding areas. It is taken in a variety of fisheries in the Arabian Sea region. While there is limited information available on this species in the region, its large size, relative rarity, and the presence of intensive fisheries mean that, like many large carcharhinids (that are morphologically and ecologically similar to hemigaleids) in the region, it will have undergone significant declines. It is especially susceptible to exploitation (target and bycatch) in many largely unregulated gill net, longline and trawl fisheries that operate within its range outside and surrounding UAE waters. Some management measures are now in place in the Arabian Sea region, although domestic fisheries are likely to continue. Though data specifically from the UAE are not available, individuals in the UAE are a component of a larger, interconnected and migratory population that occurs broadly in the north-western Indian Ocean. It is inferred that declines reported in the Arabian Sea region are representative of its status in the UAE. Based on recorded levels of exploitation and decline in habitat quality, it is suspected to have declined by 30-50% over the past three generation lengths, or about 27 years. It is listed as Vulnerable A2cd.
Assessment details
Assessors/contributors/reviewers listed
UAE National Red List Workshop
Criteria system used
IUCN
Reference for methods given
IUCN. 2012. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1, Second edition. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iv + 32pp pp. And IUCN. 2012. Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional and National Levels: Version 4.0. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK: IUCN. iii + 41pp.
Further information
Endemism (according to assessment)
Endemic to region
Not assigned
Taxon distribution as listed in assessment
The Snaggletooth Shark occurs throughout UAE waters. Globally, it is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific.
Is there a map available in assessment?
Yes
Habitat and systems
Ecological system type
Habitat
Habitat details as listed in assessment
The Snaggletooth Shark occurs on the continental shelf from inshore waters to 130 m depth (Compagno 1998). This species attains 281 cm total length (TL), with males maturing at approximately at 122-131 cm TL (Jabado et al. 2016). This viviparous species has a seasonal reproductive cycle, producing 2 to 11 (mean = 6) young per litter. Size at birth is up to 38 cm TL (Henderson et al. 2004). Smart et al. (2013) provided age and growth data for specimens caught off the east coast of Queensland (Australia). Growth appears to be quite rapid, with maturity reached in 2-“3 years. Maximum observed age was 15 years. Generation length is estimated to be 9 years based on age data from Smart et al. (2013).
Threats and conservation measures listed
Threats listed in assessment
In the UAE, sharks have been impacted by targeted commercial fisheries until 2014 when a ban on export of sharks was imposed (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment). Sharks continue to be impacted by artisanal and bycatch fisheries (Annual Fisheries Statistical Report for Abu Dhabi Emirate 2001-2018), though catch data are not species-specific. This species is impacted by bycatch fisheries that are active elsewhere in its range. Marine habitats in the Gulf are experiencing high levels of disturbance and quickly deteriorating due to major impacts from development activities (including dredging and reclamation), desalination plants, industrial activities, habitat destruction through the removal of shallow productive areas and major shipping lanes (Sheppard et al. 2010).
Publication
Ralph, G.M., Stump, E., Linardich, C., Bullock, R.W., Carpenter, K.E., Allen D.J., Hilton-Taylor, C., Al Mheiri, R., and Alshamsi, O. 2021. UAE National Red List of Marine Species: Reef-building corals, cartilaginous fishes and select bony fishes. 2021. Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.