Observations of stranded and swimming whale sharks Rhincodon typus in Khor Al‐Zubair, NW Arabian Gulf and Shatt Al‐Arab Estuary, Iraq

This study is the first record of a whale shark Rhincodon typus in Iraqi waters and the second record from the Arabian (Persian) Gulf portion of the north‐west Indian Ocean. The stranding and sighting events were documented by photos of three individuals: the stranded specimen was 6.5 m total length...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of fish biology 2019-02, Vol.94 (2), p.330-334
Main Authors: Jawad, Laith A., Al‐Dirawi, Ahmed M. H., Al‐Hilali, Hayder I., Al‐Asadi, Uday T. S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Aquatic mammals
Biological surveys
elasmobranch
Endangered Species
Estuaries
Estuarine dynamics
extreme environment
Indian Ocean
International organizations
Iraq
marine
Marine fishes
Marine mammals
new record
New records
Organizations
Policies
Rare species
Rhincodon typus
Rhycodon typus
Sharks
Stranding
Swimming
Wildlife conservation
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Summary:This study is the first record of a whale shark Rhincodon typus in Iraqi waters and the second record from the Arabian (Persian) Gulf portion of the north‐west Indian Ocean. The stranding and sighting events were documented by photos of three individuals: the stranded specimen was 6.5 m total length (LT) and the free‐swimming individuals were c. 1–2 and 2–3 m LT respectively. An appeal is made for Iraqi policy makers to participate in regional and international organizations for the conservation of this endangered species.
ISSN:0022-1112
1095-8649
DOI:10.1111/jfb.13891