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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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    Mute Barry O'Neill
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:11 AM

    They will continue to suffer while all of the smaller breweries keep popping up and making a superior product. They need to either start buying them up or move towards making better beer. People sitting at home on a Friday night with a six pack will mostly go for craft beer now as opposed to the watery stuff we drank for years.

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    Mute James Keane
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    Oct 16th 2014, 11:40 AM

    Spot on Barry. Although I hope they focus on their own offerings as oppose to buying the smaller craft brewers out.
    Franciscan Wells doesn’t taste te same since they were bought out by Coors!

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    Mute glenoir
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:42 AM

    Guinness is no longer owned by Guinness but by diageo who have got rid of half the staff and treated them awfully

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    Mute Julia85
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    Oct 16th 2014, 1:26 PM

    I have several family members in Guinness and they are definitely not treated appallingly.

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    Mute Frank M Cgrath
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:05 AM

    Ill drink to that

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    Mute Gearóid Ó Murchadha
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:09 AM

    Surely if you’re making billions in profit 1.5% isn’t a big deal?

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    Mute Aindriú de Domhain
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    Oct 16th 2014, 2:04 PM

    Not that I’d wish to see people lose jobs, especially in Ireland, but I have little sympathy for Diageo.

    I’ve seen them and their marketing up close and personal, and they way they try to ingratiate themselves with Irish identity and buy a good name for themselves by associating with charities. The absolute cynicism of Arthur’s Day and the complete disinterest they had in the public chaos it caused was what really turned me away from them and their products. It’s profit at all costs there, and then maybe try to have a fig leaf of corporate social responsibility, if it suits.

    If they actually invested in their products instead of churning out low quality drinks like they do, then they wouldn’t be in this mess.

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    Mute Eddie Sheridan
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    Oct 16th 2014, 5:36 PM

    I run a pub in upstate NY and it will not be long before sales drop here in the states too. Overpriced and dropped sponsorship of all things Irish. They think they can coast on the brand name. Sad really.

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    Mute John Heffernan
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    Oct 16th 2014, 4:05 PM

    Craft Beers, are on the way up, Erdinger, sweet Jesus it’s good….

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    Mute Endeus™
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    Oct 16th 2014, 10:47 AM

    The Dropping well…..

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