VU

Northern scarlet star

Pseudarchaster parelii

Unknown

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Northern scarlet star faces significant pressure from bottom trawling fisheries that physically damage its deep-sea habitat and directly remove individuals as bycatch. Climate change poses an additional threat through ocean acidification, which affects the species' ability to maintain its calcium carbonate skeleton, and warming waters that may alter the distribution of its prey organisms. The species' slow growth rate and limited reproductive capacity make population recovery particularly challenging following disturbance events.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Northern scarlet star inhabits deep-sea environments on continental shelves and slopes, typically found on soft sediments and rocky substrates at depths ranging from 200 to 1,500 meters. It occurs primarily in the North Atlantic, including waters off Norway, Iceland, and the northeastern Atlantic continental margin.

MARINE· major

Threatened in Algeria

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
Adonis BlueVU

Adonis Blue

Lysandra bellargus

Unknown
small mallowVU

small mallow

Malva pusilla

Unknown
Blind SnailVU

Blind Snail

Cecilioides acicula

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Northern scarlet star classified as Vulnerable?
Northern scarlet star is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Northern scarlet star faces significant pressure from bottom trawling fisheries that physically damage its deep-sea habitat and directly remove individuals as bycatch. Climate change poses an additional threat through ocean acidification, which affects the species' ability to maintain its calcium carbonate skeleton, and warming waters that may alter the distribution of its prey organisms. The species' slow growth rate and limited reproductive capacity make population recovery particularly challenging following disturbance events.
Where does Northern scarlet star live?
Northern scarlet star occurs in Algeria, Bahamas, Canada, Congo - Kinshasa, Cuba, and Faroe Islands (plus 19 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Northern scarlet star?
The main threats to Northern scarlet star are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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