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VIDEO: Meet the 'walking' shark found in Indonesia

The brown and white shark pushes itself along the ocean floor, using its fins.

http://youtu.be/HXEfud1c-do

(ConservationDotOrg/YouTube)

A NEW SPECIES of shark that “walks” along the seabed using its fins as tiny legs has been discovered in eastern Indonesia, an environmental group said today.

The brown and white bamboo shark pushes itself along the ocean floor as it forages for small fish and crustaceans at night, said Conservation International, whose scientists were involved in its discovery.

The shark, which grows to a maximum length of just 80 centimetres (30 inches) and is harmless to humans, was discovered off Halmahera, one of the Maluku Islands that lie west of New Guinea.

Bamboo sharks, also known as longtail carpet sharks, are relatively small compared to their larger cousins, with the largest adult reaching only about 120 centimetres (47 inches) in length.

They have unusually long tails that are bigger than the rest of their bodies and are found in tropical waters around Indonesia, Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Discovery

Conservation International said the discovery of the shark, which was first disclosed in the International Journal of Ichthyology, “should help draw diver interest to this mega-diverse but largely undiscovered region”.

Ketut Sarjana Putra, Indonesia country director for the group, said the Hemiscyllium halmahera shark could “serve as an excellent ambassador to call public attention to the fact that most sharks are harmless to humans and are worthy of our conservation attention”.

Conservation International, whose scientists discovered the shark along with colleagues from the Western Australian Museum, added it came at a time when Indonesia was increasing its efforts to protect shark and ray species.

- © AFP, 2013

VIDEO: Family rescues 30 sharks from death on beach>

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:43 PM

    After a day with my kids, 6 months in a war torn country is actually appealling

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    Mute Dziadek Uncaged
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:58 PM

    Boll0x and whys a c rap comment. Try live in Haiti or Syria.

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    Mute Mark Byrne
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:19 PM

    Why IS a c rap comment?

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:53 PM

    A sense of humour is a gift a lot of people lack.

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    Mute Glen
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:57 PM

    Dziadek
    Could you even attempt understanding humour or are you happy being miserable.

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:47 PM

    Dziaek , get back in that cage.

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:47 PM

    I can lick the back of my elbow,if that’s any good to them.

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:03 PM

    Gender adviser, that’s a bird that’s a bloke!, handy number!!

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:21 PM

    Gender Advisers, is that a counselling service for transvestites?

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 8:49 PM

    Ye wtf is a gender advisor? The job titles we create these days

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:42 PM

    I’d say now if you were starving for food/clean water, trying to figure out what sex you were, or should have been, would the last thing on your mind

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    Mute david dickson
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:40 PM

    We need them down here in East Galway.
    Rspid!!!

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:43 PM

    I was too rapid.

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 6:50 PM

    *rabid

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 7:23 PM

    You can apply on jobsbridge.ie apparently

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    Mute trickytrixster
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 8:25 PM

    Now this is what job bridge should be for,like the hunger games for minimum wage jobs

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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:29 PM

    We’ll have plenty of water meter installers looking for jobs abroad next year

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 10:16 PM

    It said volunteers.

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    Mute Shane Gill
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:29 PM

    I assume they pay you?

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    Mar 23rd 2015, 11:18 PM

    have a wild guess there, Shane

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    Mute Aengus In Africa
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    Mar 24th 2015, 1:10 PM

    They do pay you, the articles use of the word “volunteer” is misleading.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:40 PM

    Yes I wear a red cape and have the power to tell people what to do, yes I’m a Cardinal lol.

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Mar 23rd 2015, 9:41 PM

    Do you mean those skills, wouldn’t want a sex workers skills then lol.

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    Mute Live Long
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    Mar 24th 2015, 8:38 AM

    Take a pass, why not volunteer for a needy cause in Ireland? Just a thought

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