Walking Shark And Other New Species Found

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) ─ Scientists combing through undersea fauna off Indonesia's Papua province said Monday they had discovered dozens of new species, including a shark that walks on its fins and a shrimp that looks like a praying mantis

The team from U.S.-based Conservation International also warned that the area ─ known as Bird's Head Seascape ─ is under danger from fishermen who use dynamite and cyanide to net their catches and called on Indonesia's government to do more to protect it.

Erdmann and his team claim to have discovered 52 new species, including 24 new species of fish, 20 new species of coral and eight new species of shrimp. Among the highlights were an epaulette shark that walks on its fins, a praying mantis-like shrimp and scores of reef-building corals, he said.

Erdmann said the discoveries add to an already legendary reputation for the area, which stretches for 70,000 square miles on the northwestern end of Indonesia's Papua province.
Dubbed Asia's “Coral Triangle,'' it is home to more than 1,200 species of fish and almost 600 species of reef-building coral, or 75 percent of the world's known total.


SOURCE:
LiveScience.com

Very cool, and just go's to show how truely diverse are planet,
the seas especially, really is.

Ther've been alot of new species discovered in the last two years,
which is realy cool.


Comments, Opinions?

I love it! I can't wait until they find megaldon or another living fossil! To find 52 species so quickly... makes ya wonder what other life is out there. Great find

weren't we marine life at some point in our evolutionary path???

It makes sense really.........what goes around comes around!

We're heading for some bad # in the future if this site is anything to go by.......its all gonna end with us being tossed in too slave camps by the amphibious & reptilian creatures LOL!!!............SERIOUSLY!

BTW any one seen the guiness ad in the UK it morphs some guys drinking guiness, all the way back to an amoeba