IUCN Red List Assessment
Red List Category
LC
Least Concern
Red List Criteria
Version
3.1
Year Assessed
2006
Assessor/s
Kyne, P.M., Gerber, L. & Sherrill-Mix, S.A.
Reviewer/s
Heupel, M.R., Simpfendorfer, C.A. & Cavanagh, R.D. (Shark Red List Authority)
Justification
A rare epibenthic and epipelagic cookiecutter shark known from 10 specimens. Possibly circumglobal but at present recorded from scattered locations in the Pacific and Atlantic with all specimens collected close to land (in contrast to its congener Isistius brasiliensis). Largest recorded specimen just over 42 cm total length, but very little known of the biology of this facultative ectoparasite. Probably an irregular bycatch of trawl (benthic and pelagic) and longline fisheries (taken by hook or attached to its captured prey). Although little is known about this species it is probably widely distributed with no significant threats apparent and is thus assessed as Least Concern.
