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Observations of stranded and swimming whale sharks Rhincodon typus in Khor Al‐Zubair, NW Arabian Gulf and Shatt Al‐Arab Estuary, Iraq
Author(s) -
Jawad Laith A.,
AlDirawi Ahmed M. H.,
AlHilali Hayder I.,
AlAsadi Uday T. S.
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.13891
Subject(s) - fishery , estuary , whale , biology , endangered species , oceanography , ecology , geology , habitat
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 ( L T ) and the free‐swimming individuals were c. 1–2 and 2–3 m L T respectively . An appeal is made for Iraqi policy makers to participate in regional and international organizations for the conservation of this endangered species.