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Shark attacks in the rivers of southern Iran

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Synopsis

The literature on shark attacks in freshwaters of southern Iran is reviewed and 11 attacks with 3 fatalities recorded from local informants for the period 1953 to 1985. The species of shark responsible is probably the bull shark, Carcharhinus leucas, whose presence in the Tigris River is confirmed by preserved specimens in the British Museum (Natural History). The Iranian records represent a significant proportion (∼28%) of the documented cases world-wide for unprovoked, freshwater attacks.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ichthyology Section, National Museum of Natural Sciences, P.O. Box 3443, Station D, K1P 6P4, Ontario, Ontario, Canada

    Brian W. Coadt

  2. Department of Biology, College of Science, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Khuzestan, Iran

    Frough Papahn

Authors
  1. Brian W. Coadt
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  2. Frough Papahn
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Coadt, B.W., Papahn, F. Shark attacks in the rivers of southern Iran. Environ Biol Fish 23, 131–134 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000743

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00000743

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