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Whale shark Rhincodon typus strandings in the Gulf of California, Mexico
Author(s) -
Whitehead Darren A.,
BecerrilGarcía Edgar E.,
PetatánRamírez David,
VázquezHaikin Abraham,
GonzálezArmas Rogelio,
GalvánMagaña Felipe
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/jfb.13845
Subject(s) - whale , fishery , biology , chondrichthyes
The present study analyses whale shark Rhincodon typus stranding in the Gulf of California, Mexico, reported by the public, scientists, authorities and artisanal fishermen. A total of 14 strandings were documented during the period 2001–2018. The total length of R. typus ranged from 350–1,102 cm, with a sex ratio of 3.5:1 (males: females). This study highlights potential stranding areas, the need for better stranding protocols to assist R. typus recovery and the importance of samples from dead animals for scientific research.