A scientific discovery on the coasts of Papua New Guinea has once again highlighted the biological richness of tropical marine ecosystems. Australian researchers have identified a new species of walking shark, an animal capable of moving using its fins as if they were legs and surviving for brief periods out of water.
The species was named Hemiscyllium dudgeonae and exclusively inhabits the coral reefs of Milne Bay. Its discovery expands knowledge about one of the most peculiar groups of sharks on the planet and highlights the need to protect coastal environments increasingly pressured by human activities.
Furthermore, the discovery demonstrates that there are still unknown species to science in regions considered global biodiversity hotspots.
A unique inhabitant of tropical reefs
The so-called walking sharks belong to the genus Hemiscyllium, known for its extraordinary ability to move on the seafloor through coordinated movements of its pectoral and pelvic fins.
In low tide conditions, these animals can traverse areas where the water barely covers the seagrasses and coral platforms. Thanks to this adaptation, they access shelters and food sources that are inaccessible to other predators.
Researchers observed specimens up to nearly three-quarters of a meter in length slowly advancing among reefs and underwater meadows. This strategy allows them to capture small invertebrates and benthic organisms that are part of their regular diet.
On the other hand, local inhabitants have known this peculiar shark for generations, calling it kadedekedewa, a name associated with the slow manner in which it moves through the reefs.
The process that led to identifying a new species
The research began when a nighttime observation in Milne Bay caught the specialists’ attention. During a survey in shallow waters, one of the specimens displayed a different coloration from that observed in known species.
Subsequently, scientists captured other individuals in various nearby locations and conducted detailed morphological analyses. The external characteristics showed a unique pattern of spots and lines within the genus.
Additionally, genetic studies confirmed it was a different species. DNA analyses demonstrated that it had a distinct evolutionary identity, allowing for the formalization of its scientific description.
This discovery provides valuable information about the evolution of walking sharks and the biological isolation processes occurring in the western Pacific reefs.
A species threatened before being known
Despite being recently identified, Hemiscyllium dudgeonae faces significant challenges for its survival. Its extremely limited distribution increases its vulnerability to any environmental alteration.
Among the main threats are coastal development, the expansion of palm oil plantations, and the degradation of coral reefs. These factors progressively reduce the quality of the available habitat.
Additionally, coral bleaching associated with rising ocean temperatures affects the structure of the reefs, reducing shelters and food resources for numerous marine species.
Curiosities of this new species
The new walking shark possesses several uncommon characteristics within the world of cartilaginous fish. It can move using its fins as limbs, an adaptation that allows it to traverse very shallow bottoms and even remain out of water for short periods.
It also features a striking body pattern formed by spots and lines reminiscent of braille or Morse code symbols, a trait that facilitated its scientific identification. Another peculiarity is that it lives in relatively small areas of coral reefs, which favors the emergence of unique species adapted to very specific environmental conditions.
Finally, its existence demonstrates that the oceans still harbor unknown organisms and that the conservation of ecosystems like Milne Bay is essential to prevent the disappearance of species even before they are studied by science.
The discovery of Hemiscyllium dudgeonae thus represents new evidence of the extraordinary biodiversity of Papua New Guinea and the need to strengthen the protection of reefs that support an essential part of the planet’s marine life.
