VU

Japanese Velvet Dogfish

Scymnodon ichiharai

Declining

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.

Threat summary

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.

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryPolicies and regulations

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Japanese Velvet Dogfish classified as Vulnerable?
Japanese Velvet Dogfish 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. 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.
Where does Japanese Velvet Dogfish live?
Japanese Velvet Dogfish occurs in India, Japan, and Taiwan. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Japanese Velvet Dogfish?
The main threats to Japanese Velvet Dogfish 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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