Zoo Stock Species and the Red List

Zoo Stock

This indicates that the species is included in the Second Zoo Stock Plan, which was formulated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in 2018. The plan sets goals for the next 10 years in three areas: "species conservation," "contribution to wildlife conservation," and "environmental education and conservation awareness." 124 animal species are included.

What is the Red List?

Based on scientific research, this is a list of wildlife classified by rank (category) indicating the degree of risk of extinction.
Livng Things Encyclopedia shows the categories (mainland and islands) assessed by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) at the global level, the Ministry of the Environment for Japan, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for Tokyo.

The higher the category in each table, the higher the risk of extinction, and CR, EN, and VU are the three categories known as "endangered species." In Tokyo, species that are not at the NT (near threatened) level but are relatively rare are considered "species of concern."

IUCN categories
EX	extinction
EW	Extinction in the wild
CR+EN	—
CR	Serious crisis
EN	crisis
VU	emergency
NT	Near Threatened
LC・○	Low Concern
DD	Data shortage
LP	—

Japan (Ministry of the Environment) Category
EX	extinction
EW	Extinction in the wild
CR+EN	Endangered species
CR	Critically Endangered
EN	Endangered species
VU	Endangered species
NT	Near Threatened
LC・○	—
DD	Lack of information
LP	Endangered local population

Tokyo Category
EX	extinction
EW	Extinction in the wild
CR+EN	Endangered species
CR	Critically Endangered
EN	Endangered species
VU	Endangered species
NT	Near Threatened
LC・○	Unranked
DD	Lack of information
LP	Endangered local population

Creatures at Tokyo Sea Life Park

Snailfish
Careproctus rastrinus species complex

This fish lives in the deep sea. Its entire body is a translucent pink color, and it has a soft, jelly-like appearance. Because of this unique appearance, the group that includes Snailfish is called the "jellyfish genus." The fin veins on its pectoral fins are taste-sensing organs, which it uses to explore the seabed and eat shrimp, crabs, and other creatures.

classification	Actinopterygii, Scorpaeniformes, Snailfish
English name	Snailfish
distribution	The Sea of Okhotsk, the Pacific Ocean north of Ibaraki Prefecture, and the Sea of Japan
Residence	Deep seas at depths of 100 to 600 meters
Size	Total length: 35cm
food	Small animals such as shrimp and crabs
Red List	Unrated

Tokyo Sea Life Park exhibition area

Deep-sea creatures Tokyo Sea Life Park

Searching for food

Let's look at the "strip" located below the pectoral fin. This is a modified part of the pectoral fin that has been transformed into a taste-sensing organ. They use this "strip" to probe the seabed and eat small creatures such as shrimp and crabs. Normally they swim slowly, but when they sense the smell of food, they swim quickly to approach it and swallow it whole with their large mouths.

Eggs and hatched offspring

Snailfish has laid eggs in an aquarium. The eggs are about 0.5 cm in diameter and look like pearls. These eggs were discovered in clusters called "egg masses." It takes more than six months for the eggs to hatch in an aquarium at a water temperature of 3°C. Newly hatched offspring are translucent, tadpole-like creatures about 1.5 cm in length. They use their pelvic fins, which have been modified into suction cups, to cling to the walls of the aquarium.

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