Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Broadfin shark (Lamiopsis temminckii), recorded as Endangered
Broadfin shark (Lamiopsis temminckii). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Broadfin shark

Lamiopsis temminckii

This is one of two species in the genus Lamiopsis, the other being the Borneo broadfin shark (Lamiopsis tephrodes).

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Lamiopsis temminckii
Taxonomy
Elasmobranchii · Carcharhiniformes · Carcharhinidae · Lamiopsis

The shark or ray

The reported size of females has decreased when compared with previous recordings of the species, with the new maximum size of females being around 175 cm (69 in), while the reported size of males has increased.

Range and habitat

The broadfin shark is found in both the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Its distribution is sporadic, with sightings occurring off the coasts of Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Burma, China, and Sarawak. Females and males are evenly distributed throughout their habitat range.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Diet

Analysis of the stomach contents of 214 individuals revealed that crustaceans are their most abundant prey.

In crisis

Its current status according to the IUCN is endangered. The broadfin shark is known to be endangered globally. It is likely that misidentifying Borneo broadfin sharks as broadfin sharks could have skewed the population numbers.

Therefore, it is possible that the actual status of the broadfin shark population has been recorded as healthier than it truly is, and they may belong in the critically endangered list. While, there have always low population numbers, at one time the species was considered to be common in heavily fished areas like Indonesia, the Arabian Sea, and the western coast of India.

Broadfin shark is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Broadfin shark, Wikidata item Q217719. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Same genus

Photograph of Borneo broadfin shark (Lamiopsis tephrodes), recorded as EndangeredEN

Borneo broadfin shark

Lamiopsis tephrodes
Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
Photograph of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii

Quick answers

What is Broadfin shark?
This is one of two species in the genus Lamiopsis, the other being the Borneo broadfin shark (Lamiopsis tephrodes). The broadfin shark is native to the northern Indian Ocean, and is found close to shore.
What is the conservation status of Broadfin shark?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Lamiopsis temminckii. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Broadfin shark live?
Females and males are evenly distributed throughout their habitat range.
Why is Broadfin shark in crisis?
Therefore, it is possible that the actual status of the broadfin shark population has been recorded as healthier than it truly is, and they may belong in the critically endangered list.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Lamiopsis temminckii?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Broadfin shark a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.