15 Lesser-Known Endangered Marine Species That Need Our Help

Introduction: The Hidden Crisis Beneath the Waves

Whereas mythical sea creatures such as whales and sea turtles take up all the conservation discourse, hundreds of other species are quietly vanishing in our oceans. These lesser-known heroes of marine life have the same threats as their better-known relatives overfishing, habitat loss, pollution and climate change albeit considerably less media attention as well as support.

In this handy guide we present to you 15 species of marine organisms that are critically endangered that you have probably never heard of, but all are important to the health of the oceans. Learning about these endangered animals is the initial stage on the way to protecting them before it is too late.

These Species Matter: The Silent Disappearing Act

• Loss of marine biodiversity is not always noted since:
• Eighty percent of the ocean species have not been discovered or studied.
• Small species and deep-sea species are not at all charismatic
• There is the depopulation that goes on under the seas
• Funding of conservation is biased towards flagship species

Still, these systematically ignored organisms are the basis of healthy oceans. Their loss may cause a series of toppling ecological collapses that we are only just learning about.

15 Critically Endangered Marine Species You Should Know

1. European Eel (Anguilla anguilla)

A catadromous species of fish that migrates between European Rivers, and the Sargasso Sea to breed. Considered Critically Endangered by IUCN as a result of overfishing, habitat loss and pollution. well known because of its extraordinary migration of 4,000 miles and metamorphic existence (glass eel stage to yellow eel stage to silver eel stage).

Status: Critical endangered

Distinguishing Characteristics: Embarks in a 4,000 miles journey migration, the European rivers to the Sargasso Sea, to spawn

Threats: Dams, pollution, sushi trade: trafficking illegally

The Godsend: The Eel ladder installations which aid migration

2. Smalltooth Sawfish (Pristis pectinata)

One of the critically endangered species of rays is distinguished by its characteristic saw-like rostrum to sense and stun the prey. Once plentiful in the tropical and sub-tropical waters all around the world, today virtually extinct in 95 percent of their historic range as they die in bycatch and are displaced by encroaching development. Regarded as a living fossil, which has hardly changed in 56 years.

Status: Critically Endangered

Fun Fact: Uses rostrum, which is saw-like, to perturb and stun the prey

Threats: Bycatch, habitat destruction, sport hunting

Good News: It is a Protected one in Florida since 2003

3. Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis pristis)

A critically endangered marine predator distinguished by its prominent toothed rostrum, which can reach 1.5 meters long. Suffered catastrophic 80% population decline due to entanglement in fishing gear and coastal habitat destruction. This ancient species, surviving since the Cretaceous period, has disappeared from 60+ countries and may now be functionally extinct in most of its former range.

Status: Critically Endangered

Scandalous fact: Population fell 80 per cent in the past 5 decades

Significant Threat: Gillnet fishing accross its range

4. Angelshark (Squatina squatina)

Bottom-dwelling shark with ray-like flattened shape, that is now critically endangered because of bottom trawling. Originally common throughout the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean, but locally extinct in a number of places. Expert hiding beasties which attack on seabed sand.

Critically Endangered Status:

Incredible Adaptation: Body flattened to ambush Hunting

Extinction Sandbox: Being extinct in most parts of Mediterranean

5. Common Skate (Dipturus batis)

The largest species of skates found in Europe (2.5m wide), is currently commercially extinct in most areas. The species has been overfished so much that it is a critically endangered species with decreases of 99%. Its snout is point features and dorsal surface mottled grey-brown.

Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat: Largest in the world skate species

Harmful Fact: Commercial extinction in most places

6. Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus)

A disturbingly rare and beautiful reef fish that during the mass spawning aggregation is particularly dramatic. Overfishing in its predictable events resulted in crashes in the populations to the extent of 80%. The appearance of which is familiar as that of a chameleon in its habit of changing its color patterns.

Status: Criticall y Endangered

Distintive Behaviour: Forms very large spawning aggregations.

Vulnerability: Fishers exploit these predictable aggregati

7. Atlantic Halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)

Sole, the largest flatfish in the world (growing up to 4.7m), which has now become endangered due to centuries of over fishing. Valued because of a fitted white flesh, and populations crashed in parts by 90 percent. Unusual in a flatfish, in having a migratory habit, bred in one ocean basin, but extending into another.

Status: Endangered

Size Marvel: Able to grow eight feet tall and weigh 700 pounds

Winning the Conservation: Tight quotas providing a boost to recovery in AUs

8. Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)

The coral reef giant (2m/180kg), which has become endangered as a result of live reef food trade. It is repopulated slowly (lifespan of 50 yr) and it is hard to recover. hot-lipped, hump on forehead growing older.

Status: Endangered

Coral Reef Giant: as big as 6 feet and 400 pounds

Terrifying Trend: Population reduce by 50 percent within a decade.

9. Green Sawfish (Pristis zijsron)

The greatest species of sawfish (up to 7m) are nowadays critical endangered swath-wide. Wants to be in tropic waters but it disappeared in 70 percent of habitats. Distinguishable by greenish color and the location of the dorsal fin that is advanced.

Status: Critically Endangered

Environmental Requirements: NatGeo atlas

Habitat destruction of mangrove nurseries: Primary Threat

10. Pondicherry Shark (Carcharhinus hemiodon)

Called after its very sharp snout, this shark has decreased by 90 percent within a 10-year period. Today critically endangered over its small range in South America. Extremely susceptible to low litter sizes (2- 8 pups).

An extinct, perhaps, coastal shark last documented in 1979. Indo-Pacific shores were once their habitat but today this species of sharks is the rarest. Stocky (1m) and with black-tipped fins and slim body.

In danger: Critically Endangered

Status: Mystery - may be extinct - last clearly sighted in 1979

In Borneo and Java: Last Hope: Potential populations

11. Daggernose Shark (Isogomphodon oxyrhynchus)

Bottom trawling has endangered a bottom trawling critically endangered endemic in the Mediterranean. This is distinguished with other angel sharks by its smooth dorsal surface. Declines in population over the past 45 years are greater than 80 percent.

Critically Endangered:

Special Feature: Very long, pointed snout

Population went down 90% in last 10 years

12. Smoothback Angel Shark (Squatina oculata)

Little shark (1.5m), characterized by dark color stripes, which are currently critically endangered. Occurs in Southwest Atlantic only in coastal waters. Experiences severe bycatch kill in the local fisheries.

Critically endangered.

Habitat: Mediterranean and Eats Atlantic

Imminent threat: Seafloor habitats trashed through bottom trawling

13. Striped Smoothhound (Mustelus fasciatus)

This small shark (1.5m) has special dark stripes and is currently critically endangered. Occurs only in the coastal Southwest Atlantic waters. Experiences severe bycatch mortality at local fisheries.

Australia Status: Critically Endangered

Range: Brazilian, Argentino, Uruguay coastlines

Emerging need: Improving measures to reduce bycatch

14. Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara)

A giant reef fish (2.5m/360kg) with 6 years maturity period. Critically threatened due to overfishing of the past. It is famous as the creature that generates audible booms through vibrations on the swim bladder.

Status: Critically Endangered

Awe-Inspiring Dimensions: Length of 8 feet, and 800 pounds in weight

Recovery Challenge: Very slow reproductive rate

15. Sakhalin Sturgeon (Acipenser mikadoi)

Most endangered with perhaps fewer than 50 adults. Endemic to rivers of Russia / Far East, reduce to very low numbers by caviar harvesting. Able to live over 60 years was, but is now functionally extinct in the wild.

Status: Vulnerable

Caviar Crisis: Poached for expensive beluga caviar

Habitat Loss: Dams blocking spawning migrations

Why Conservation of such Species is Important

• These marine animals each have a special role in the ecology:
• Sawfish also assist in healthy seagrass beds
• Populations of reef fish are managed by the groupers
• Food webs are maintained by skates and sharks
• Eels move nutrients between marine and freshwater Delivery responders

Their loss might drive unforeseeable collapse of ecosystems that would affect commercially important fish harvests, as well as protection of the coastlines.

Concrete Actions You Can Take

1. Choose sustainability when choosing Seafoods

• Refer to Seafood Watch app
• Stay away form sturgeon products
• So select domestic eel substitutes

2. Endorsee Marine Protected Areas

• Endorse sawfish important habitats
• Give to mangrove preservation
• Advocate selling of grouper spawning protections

3. Reduce Your Ocean Footprint

• Reduce plastics to avoid pollution in the seas
• Use environmentally friendly transport means
• Foster green power programs

3. Become a Citizen Scientist

• Report the rare sightings of species
• volunteer in beach clean-ups
• Participate with marine protection organizations

The Road to Recovery- Success Stories

Though the scenario may sound terrible, there are certain species which demonstrate hope of recovery:

• Populations of smalltooth sawfish stabilizing in Florida
• Strictly managed stocks rebuild Atlantic halibut stocks
• Such early promise in European eel conservation measures

These successes are evidence, that even critically endangered species of marine animals, can recover, given an effective intervention.

Conclusion: We are all Responsible

Often the most at-risk species in the ocean never achieve the star power required to garner conservation funding and citizen interest. Their existence however is important, not merely to our ecological stability, but to our future well being.

We can all make a difference by educating ourselves on these now endangered sea creatures, choosing to make conscious consumer decisions, and fund the efforts of conservation efforts. It is time the action is taken - before other species quietly die under water never to be heard again.