Video: 'Walking shark' discovered on ocean floor of Indonesia
A new species of shark, which uses its fins to walk, has been discovered off an Indonesian island.
Scientists from Conservation International made the discovery of the shark, which has distinctive spots over most of its narrow body and lives in waters off of the island of Halmahera.
"The epaulette (long-tailed carpet) shark, Hemiscyllium halmahera, uses its fins to walk across the ocean floor in search of small fish and crustaceans," Emmeline Johansen of Conservation International's Asia Pacific Field Division told the Discovery Channel.
"The discovery comes at a time when Indonesia is significantly ramping up its efforts to protect shark and ray species that are now considered vulnerable to extinction, including whale sharks and manta rays."
Angus Dermawan, director of the Marine Conservation Directorate of the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, told the Daily Mail: "The local government of Halmahera is now very hopeful that this finding will further promote marine tourism to the area as a sustainable economic alternative to destructive fishing."
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