Walking shark

Walking shark

The fascinating marine biodiversity of the Bird’s Head Seascape on the northwestern end of Indonesia’s Papua province is home to 50 new marine species, including the new epaulette shark (Hemiscyillum freycineti). In addition to the two types of walking epaulette sharks, the researchers discovered 22 species of other fish, 20 species of hard corals, and 8 kinds of shrimp all believed new to science. However, the underwater world is under severe threat from over-fishing with dynamite and cyanide, as well as deforestation and mining that degrade coastal waters.