Abstract
The first evidence-based checklist of sharks of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf is presented based on appraisal of primary lit-erature and new data, including identifications verified by COI barcoding. Evidence of the occurrence of 26 species in theGulf is presented, and the possible presence of a further 17 species is discussed. Carcharhinidae is the most species-richfamily (16 species) present. The first substantiated Gulf records of the spinner shark Carcharhinus brevipinna, blacktipreef shark C. melanopterus¸ and scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini are provided, along with a new record of the rarelyreported grey nurse shark Carcharias taurus. The diversity of the Gulf’s shark fauna, and possible influences on it, are briefly discussed.References
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