Scymnodon ichiharai
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
Scymnodon ichiharai faces significant pressure from deep-sea fishing operations, particularly bottom trawling and longline fisheries that target commercial species in its depth range. The species' slow growth rate, late maturity, and low reproductive output make populations extremely vulnerable to even moderate fishing pressure. Bycatch mortality in commercial fisheries represents the primary threat, as these deep-water sharks are often discarded but rarely survive the capture process.
Habitat
This deep-water dogfish shark inhabits continental slopes and seamounts at depths ranging from 200 to 1,500 meters in the western North Pacific. The species prefers cold, deep waters along the continental shelf edges and underwater mountain ranges where it feeds on small fish and invertebrates.
