At a glance
- IUCN category
- EN · Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The speartooth shark is a rare river shark of northern Australia and New Guinea, with young that live in tidal rivers. It is assessed as Endangered.
It has distinctive spear-shaped lower teeth.
Range & habitat
Rivers and estuaries of northern Australia and New Guinea.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Bycatch in fisheries
- Habitat change
- A small, restricted population
Why it matters
A little-known river shark whose young depend on tidal rivers, the speartooth shark is a flagship for tropical river and estuary conservation.
Sources
Sources for Speartooth Shark
- IUCN Red List — look up Speartooth Shark (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do young speartooth sharks live?
Juveniles live in tidal stretches of rivers and estuaries in northern Australia and New Guinea, making these waterways crucial nurseries for the species.
Why is the speartooth shark Endangered?
Published assessments cite bycatch in fisheries, habitat change, and a small, restricted population. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
Last updated: