Four new breeds of walking shark have been discovered in the sea between Australia and Indonesia. These fellas may not look like what you imagine when you think 'shark', and while they certainly don't look like Great Whites or Hammerheads, they are most certainly part of the shark family. These amazing creatures are like nothing you have ever seen before!
Known as 'epaulette' sharks, the creatures are about 1 metre in length, brightly coloured and appear to 'walk' over the sea floor, or over coral reef, using their fins like legs. They can swim if required but they seem to favour the walking approach which allows them to stalk for prey such as crabs, small fish and other crustaceans.
Amazingly, they have now even been seen out of water and moving across land when the tide has been low.
Dr. Christine Dudgeon of the University of Queensland, described the new amazing find:
"At less than a meter (3.2 feet) long on average, walking sharks present no threat to people but their ability to withstand low oxygen environments and walk on their fins gives them a remarkable edge over their prey of small crustaceans and molluscs."
She said she also believed that it may very well be the case that there are other walking sharks in the region waiting to be discovered. She added:
"Data suggests the new species evolved after the sharks moved away from their original population, became genetically isolated in new areas and developed into new species They may have moved by swimming or walking on their fins, but it's also possible they 'hitched' a ride on reefs moving westward across the top of New Guinea, about two million years ago. We believe there are more walking shark species still waiting to be discovered."
The scientists published their discovery in the Marine and Freshwater Research journal. This is not the first walking shark to be discovered. The discovery of these four new breeds brings the total known number of species of walking sharks up to nine.
It is often said that humankind knows more about the surface of the moon that it does about the ocean floor. The fact that these new discoveries are made proves that point perfectly. Who knows what other species lie awaiting for us beneath the blue!
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