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Aulohalaelurus kanakorum

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family
ANIMALIA CHORDATA CHONDRICHTHYES CARCHARHINIFORMES SCYLIORHINIDAE

Scientific Name: Aulohalaelurus kanakorum
Species Authority: Seret, 1990
Common Name/s:
English – New Caledonia Catshark

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable B1ab(iii) ver 3.1
Year Published: 2003
Assessor/s: Fowler, S.L. & Lisney, T.J. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003)
Reviewer/s: Stevens, J., Seret, B., Fowler, S. & Musick, J.A. (Shark Red List Authority)
Contributor/s:
Justification:
This species is known from only one specimen and two photographs within an area that is well surveyed for its fish fauna. It is very likely a New Caledonian endemic and uncommon within its range. It is presumed, like similar taxa, to be a benthic species and a weak swimmer, restricted to a narrow depth band of moderately deep external coral reef habitat, hence having a small extent of occurrence. This restricted range and fragile nature of the coral reef habitat makes the species vulnerable to depletion through bycatch in mixed species fisheries and to habitat deterioration and loss as a result of run off from mining operations and coral reef bleaching.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description: The holotype (and only known specimen) was collected from the coral bottom in the pass of an islet on the external coral reef of a south-western New Caledonian lagoon. There are also underwater photographs of two specimens. The fish fauna of New Caledonia has been well surveyed, suggesting that this species is rare. It is, however, presumably present at similar depths and in similar habitat elsewhere around the island.

New Caledonia has approximately 8,000 km² of coral reef habitat surrounding a lagoon of 24,000 km². Much of this habitat is significantly shallower than the type locality, implying that the total extent of occurrence of this species around the island will be less than 20,000 km², even if the species is very widespread (which appears not to be the case).
Countries:
Native:
New Caledonia
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
Native:
Pacific – western central
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population Trend: Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology: Inshore on an external coral reef at a depth of 49 m. Catsharks are generally weak swimmers and do not migrate large distances. They mostly feed on invertebrates and small fishes.
Systems: Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s): This small (79 cm), attractively patterned catshark is likely to be taken as bycatch in mixed-species, artisanal fisheries and to be susceptible to habitat deterioration and loss. New Caledonian coral reefs are in generally good condition, but large areas (particularly in the east) are affected by run-off arising from nickel mining operations and resultant deforestation, erosion and water pollution. The problem is exacerbated by destruction of mangroves. The incidence of coral reef bleaching is also rising in the region (ReefBase).

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions: There are currently no conservation measures in place for this species.
Citation: Fowler, S.L. & Lisney, T.J. (SSG Australia & Oceania Regional Workshop, March 2003) 2003. Aulohalaelurus kanakorum. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 June 2013.
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