First record of six shark species in the territorial marine waters of Iraq with a review of cartilaginous fishes of Iraq

Abstract

During collection of some marine fishes from Khor Al-Ummaia at territorial Iraqi waters, north-west Arabian Gulf, six shark species were recorded for the first time in Iraq. These are: sand tiger shark Carchariaus taurus Rafinesque, 1810, hooktooth shark Chaenogaleus macrostoma (Bleeker, 1852), Arabian smooth-hound Mustelus mosis Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1899, milk shark Rhizoprionodon acutus (Rüppell, 1837), Grey sharpnose shark R. oligolinx Springer, 1964, and zebra shark Stegostoma fasciatum (Hermann, 1783). The systematic characters for each species are given. The historical records of elasmobranchs of Iraq is reviewed and discussed. The present records bring the total number of shark species in Iraq to 17 species.