According to the IUCN red list, over one-third of elasmobranch species (sharks, rays, skates) are at risk of extinction. Traditionally, scientists have evaluated extinction risk to elasmobranchs on a species level or as geographic grid cell data. This study evaluated extinction risk at a community level to explain ecosystem patterns. Published catch and morphological data were compiled and community average IUCN status, maximum body length, species rarity and richness were analysed using linear regression models. Results show that elasmobranch communities have a higher average threat level if dominated by species with high maximum lengths, viviparous reproduction, pelagic and reef habitats or ranges including the South Atlantic but not near the coast of southern Australia or west coast of North America. Communities with larger species fit the same profile but also tend to lack rays and skates, fall in an oceanic instead of neritic habitat, have high average community threat status and/or be located in tropical regions rather than the South Atlantic. Communities with more rare species on average were characterised by small body lengths, high species richness, oviparity, and neritic and/or demersal instead of oceanic habitat. High species richness was seen in the Indo-Pacific. Reproductive mode
and the traits linked to them are the most important predictors of community structure. The threat and rarity models show that threat status, geographic restriction and local abundance are highly predictable. Thus, they could be used to predict threat status for individual species.