List of data deficient fishes facts for kids

In September 2016, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) found that 3,191 types of fish didn't have enough information for them to figure out how well they were doing. These are called "data deficient" species. It means scientists don't have enough facts to know if these fish are safe, or if they are in danger. About 21% of all the fish species they looked at were in this "data deficient" group.

The IUCN also listed 12 fish subspecies (which are like smaller groups within a species) and 34 fish populations as data deficient. This means we don't know enough about these specific groups of fish to protect them properly.

What Does "Data Deficient" Mean for Fish?

When a fish species is "data deficient," it means scientists don't have enough information about it. They might not know:

• How many of these fish are left.
• Where they live.
• What threats they face, like pollution or fishing.
• How quickly their numbers are changing.

Without this information, it's hard to make plans to protect them. It's like trying to solve a puzzle when you're missing most of the pieces!

Types of Fish We Don't Know Enough About

Many different kinds of fish are on this "data deficient" list. Let's look at some of the main groups.

Cartilaginous Fishes

Cartilaginous fishes are special because their skeletons are made of cartilage, not bone. This group includes sharks, rays, skates, and sawfish. In 2016, 475 species of these fish were listed as data deficient. This means we need to learn a lot more about them.

Angelsharks

Angelsharks are flat sharks that look a bit like rays. They often hide on the seabed. Some data deficient angelsharks include the African angelshark (Squatina africana) and the Chilean angelshark (Squatina armata).

Rays and Skates

Rays and skates are also flat-bodied fish. They glide through the water using their large, wing-like fins. Many types of rays and skates are data deficient. For example, the Common eagle ray (Myliobatis aquila) and the Marbled stingray (Dasyatis marmorata) are on this list. Even some electric rays, like the Numbray (Narke dipterygia), need more study.

Ground Sharks

Ground sharks are a large group of sharks. They usually live near the bottom of the ocean. About 110 species of ground sharks are data deficient.

Hammerhead Sharks

Hammerhead sharks are famous for their unique head shape. The Scoophead (Sphyrna media) is one hammerhead shark that needs more research.

Requiem Sharks

Requiem sharks are common sharks found in many oceans. The Bignose shark (Carcharhinus altimus) and the Smalltail shark (Carcharhinus porosus) are examples of data deficient requiem sharks.

Catsharks

Catsharks are usually small, bottom-dwelling sharks. They are often found in deep waters. Many catshark species are data deficient, such as the Brown catshark (Apristurus brunneus) and the Leopard catshark (Poroderma pantherinum).

Chimaeras

A chimaera, also known as a ghost shark.

Chimaeras are sometimes called "ghost sharks." They are deep-sea fish with long, whip-like tails. There are 20 data deficient chimaera species. The Bahamas ghost shark (Chimaera bahamaensis) and the African chimaera (Hydrolagus africanus) are two examples.

Lampreys

Lampreys are ancient, jawless fish that look a bit like eels. They have round, sucking mouths. Some lamprey species, like the Lake lamprey (Entosphenus macrostoma) and the Pouched lamprey (Geotria australis), are data deficient.

Ray-finned Fishes

Ray-finned fishes are the largest group of fish, making up almost all known fish species. They have fins supported by bony rays. A huge number, 2,682 species, 12 subspecies, and one population of ray-finned fish, are data deficient.

Salmon and Trout

This group includes popular fish like salmon and trout. For example, the Korean taimen (Hucho ishikawae) and the Ferox trout (Salmo ferox) are data deficient. Even some populations of the famous Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) don't have enough data.

Catfishes

Catfishes are a diverse group, known for their whisker-like barbels around their mouths. There are 439 data deficient catfish species. This includes many types of river catfishes, like the Mesopotamian sucking catfish (Glyptothorax kurdistanicus) and the Blue-eye panaque (Panaque suttonorum).

Perches and Cichlids

This group includes many colorful fish found in freshwater and saltwater.

• Temperate Perches: Fish like the Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica) are data deficient.
• Gouramis: These are popular aquarium fish. The Emerald green betta (Betta smaragdina) is one example.
• Cichlids: Cichlids are a very diverse family, especially in African lakes. Many species, like the Angola happy (Chetia welwitschi), are data deficient.

Groupers and Snappers

These are important fish for fishing and ocean ecosystems.

• Groupers: Large, predatory fish found in coral reefs. The Redmouth grouper (Aethaloperca rogaa) and the Bighead grouper (Epinephelus amblycephalus) are data deficient.
• Snappers: Colorful fish often found in tropical waters. The Ruby snapper (Etelis carbunculus) and the African red snapper (Lutjanus agennes) need more data.

Gobies

Gobies are usually small fish found in many different environments, from coral reefs to rivers. Many species, like the Scaly boy (Aboma etheostoma) and the Bumblebee fish (Brachygobius xanthozonus), are data deficient.

Wrasses and Parrotfish

These are often brightly colored fish found in coral reefs.

• Wrasses: The Lined wrasse (Anampses lineatus) and the Blueside wrasse (Cirrhilabrus cyanopleura) are data deficient.
• Parrotfish: Named for their beak-like mouths, used to scrape algae from rocks. The Midnight parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus) and the Knobsnout parrotfish (Scarus ovifrons) are on the list.

Seahorses and Pipefishes

These unique fish are known for their upright swimming and male pregnancy. There are 71 species and two subspecies of seahorses and pipefishes that are data deficient. This includes many well-known species like the Big-belly seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) and the Slender seahorse (Hippocampus reidi).

Eels

Eels are long, snake-like fish. About 50 eel species are data deficient. This includes various types like the Snaggle-toothed snake-eel (Aplatophis zorro) and the Polynesian longfinned eel (Anguilla megastoma).

Flatfishes

Flatfishes, like soles and flounders, are known for their flattened bodies and eyes on one side of their head. There are 58 species and two subspecies of flatfish that are data deficient. Examples include the Common sole (Solea solea) and the Foureyed flounder (Ancylopsetta kumperae).

Hagfishes

Hagfishes are primitive, jawless fish that produce a lot of slime when stressed. They live in deep ocean waters. Many hagfish species are data deficient, such as the Black hagfish (Eptatretus deani) and the Goliath hagfish (Eptatretus goliath).

Why is This Important?

Knowing which fish are data deficient is important because it tells us where we need to focus our efforts. If we don't know enough about a species, we can't tell if it's in trouble. More research is needed to understand these fish and protect them for the future.

See also

• Lists of IUCN Red List data deficient species
• List of least concern fishes
• List of near threatened fishes
• List of vulnerable fishes
• List of endangered fishes
• List of critically endangered fishes
• List of recently extinct fishes
• Sustainable seafood advisory lists and certification

Images for kids

• Squatina squatina aquarium.jpg

  An angelshark, a type of cartilaginous fish.

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  A chimaera, also known as a ghost shark.

• Panaque suttonorum.jpg

  A blue-eye panaque, a type of catfish.

• Hippocampus reidi.jpg

  A slender seahorse.