biostudies-literatureUnknown14(1)Sherman CSSharks and rays are key functional components of coral reef ecosystems, yet many populations of a few species exhibit signs of depletion and local extinctions. The question is whether these declines forewarn of a global extinction crisis. We use IUCN Red List to quantify the status, trajectory, and threats to all coral reef sharks and rays worldwide. Here, we show that nearly two-thirds (59%) of the 134 coral-reef associated shark and ray species are threatened with extinction. Alongside marine mammals, sharks and rays are among the most threatened groups found on coral reefs. Overfishing is the main cause of elevated extinction risk, compounded by climate change and habitat degradation. Risk is greatest for species that are larger-bodied (less resilient and higher trophic level), widely dNature communications15https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9845228biostudies-literatureHalf a century of rising extinction risk of coral reef sharks and rays.PMC9845228FahmiFinucci BVanderWright WJCharvet PDerrick DHYuneni RRRigby CLPollom RAPacoureau NUtzurrum JJabado RWBlanco-Parra MDPalomares MLDEddy TDEspinoza MMejia-Falla PASherman CSWalls RHLCarlson JKKinattumkara BNavia AFMatsushiba JHBin Ali ASimpfendorfer CAYan HFDulvy NKAvalos-Castillo CGHerman KBDharmadiCheok JHaque ABFernando DPerez-Jimenez JCfalseHalf a century of rising extinction risk of coral reef sharks and rays.Sharks and rays are key functional components of coral reef ecosystems, yet many populations of a few species exhibit signs of depletion and local extinctions. The question is whether these declines forewarn of a global extinction crisis. We use IUCN Red List to quantify the status, trajectory, and threats to all coral reef sharks and rays worldwide. Here, we show that nearly two-thirds (59%) of the 134 coral-reef associated shark and ray species are threatened with extinction. Alongside marine mammals, sharks and rays are among the most threatened groups found on coral reefs. Overfishing is the main cause of elevated extinction risk, compounded by climate change and habitat degradation. Risk is greatest for species that are larger-bodied (less resilient and higher trophic level), widely d2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Jan2025-04-19T12:38:00.369Z2025-04-19T12:38:00.369ZS-EPMC98452283665013710.1038/s41467-022-35091-x