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7886791 
Journal Article 
SHARK BITE WOUNDS OF THE VALVULAR INTESTINE - THE CAUSE OF AN ACUTE MORTALITY SYNDROME OF CAPTIVE BLACKTIP REEF SHARKS, CARCHARHINUS-MELANOPTERUS 
Crow, GL; Brock, JA; Howe, JC; Linnon, BE 
1991 
1 
Zoo Biology
ISSN: 0733-3188 
10 
6 
457-463 
WOS:A1991GU99000003 
During 1987-1990 nine cases of mortality in captive blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) were attributed to bite wounds to the valvular intestine. Necropsies revealed lacerations, amputation of the scroll valve folds, or complete severance of the valvular intestine. Wounding resulting from attack by tankmates occurred during episodes of intestinal eversion, an apparently regular event of unclear physiological function in sharks with a scroll valve intestine. This paper adds intestinal biting as a putative cause of mortality in captive shark species having a scroll valve intestine.