Morphological abnormalities in elasmobranchs
Published online on 23. April 2015
Morphological abnormalities in elasmobranchs
A. B. M. Moore
ABSTRACT:
A total of 10 abnormal free-swimming (i.e. post-birth) elasmobranchs are reported from The (Persian–Arabian) Gulf, encompassing five species and including deformed heads, snouts, caudal fins and claspers. The complete absence of pelvic fins in a milk shark Rhizoprionodon acutus may be the first record in any elasmobranch. Possible causes, including the extreme environmental conditions and the high level of anthropogenic pollution particular to The Gulf, are briefly discussed.
Journal of Fish Biology. Early View Version. doi: 10.1111/jfb.12680