Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

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>

Author
View 20 comments
Close
20 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wobble
    Favourite Wobble
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:39 PM

    Well if that doesn’t convert a few creationsts…

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry
    Favourite Barry
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:57 PM

    nothing will make them see sense,

    They still think T-Rex eat veg and hung out with Adam & Eve, hell they even have a theme park showing it.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Neill
    Favourite John O'Neill
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 4:30 PM

    Feck it, now they’ll be able to creep up on us…

    21
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerry Campbell
    Favourite Gerry Campbell
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 11:09 PM

    Haven’t we a country full of them !!

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SHurley
    Favourite SHurley
    Report
    Aug 31st 2013, 11:35 AM

    Evolution at its finest… Won’t be long now till they take over the world !!!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry T Bird
    Favourite Larry T Bird
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:07 PM

    Nothing new about a walking shark, sure Ireland is crawling with them !

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute WanderArch
    Favourite WanderArch
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:12 PM

    Boom.
    No that wasn’t in reply to your comparison, it was the door whooping yo ass outta here!

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry T Bird
    Favourite Larry T Bird
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:23 PM

    Sometimes the obvious gags are better left unsaid

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Magnier
    Favourite James Magnier
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:12 PM

    Ok so they can eat us in the water and now they can just walk out of the sea and eat us also, pretty scary I say.

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rocky Dennis
    Favourite Rocky Dennis
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:58 PM

    Science is 1 step closer to discovering sharktopus. The truth is out there folks.

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Little Jim
    Favourite Little Jim
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 7:04 PM

    It’s the bearfish I’m worried about.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Skillington
    Favourite Tony Skillington
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:35 PM

    That diver sounds like Darth Vader gargling mouthwash..

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Curley
    Favourite Paul Curley
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 4:12 PM

    Any one see that film called Sharknado?

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anto Curran
    Favourite Anto Curran
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 4:23 PM

    It was quality, looking forward to Monday’s treat of Pirhanaconda!

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aidan Ryan
    Favourite Aidan Ryan
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 5:44 PM

    Lets kill it!!!!

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paraic Collins
    Favourite Paraic Collins
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:09 PM

    Lazy so-and-so.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carcu Sidub
    Favourite Carcu Sidub
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 3:25 PM

    I knew that “classic” film Creature, was not science fiction.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darryl Weathers
    Favourite Darryl Weathers
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 6:01 PM

    False flag, false flag!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Lynam
    Favourite Paul Lynam
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 4:24 PM

    Looks like Rango had his way with a shark (“,)

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute karla carroll
    Favourite karla carroll
    Report
    Aug 30th 2013, 5:35 PM

    Sharknado 2

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds