Photo Gallery of Epaulette "Walking" Sharks of Indonesia
Photo's by
Gerry Allen, Erwin Kodiat, Alex Mustard, Graham Abbott
Yes these unusual sharks do walk! Epaulette sharks use their pectoral and anal fins to literally walk slowly across reef and sandy bottoms. On recent surveys around Irian Jaya, Dr. Gerry Allen & Dr. Mark Erdmann found 2 new species of Hemiscyllium, Epaulette sharks. One species was in the Cendrawasih Bay area in the north and the other species was in the Fakfak region. During an exploratory expedition I led to Halmahera I came across a dive site where we found up to four of these very unique sharks. Upon recent closer examination of a photograph by Erwin Kodiat, I noticed that the markings were very different from the sharks found in Irian Jaya. Recently whilst with Dr. Gerry Allen I showed him this photograph, Gerry says this is very likely yet another new species of walking shark only found in Halmahera.
View David Doubilet's Irian Jaya, Birds Head Peninsula photo gallery and article which includes the new Hemiscyllium sp., walking shark species from the Fakfak area at: http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0709/indonesia/indonesia-photography.html
View Alex Mustards Walking Shark story at:
http://www.finsonline.com/blog/fins/20070111/on-the-trail-of-the-walking-shark.html
It seems that all species of Hemiscyllium or epaulette sharks have different markings for each species. When the shark photos are all together in close proximity it is quite easy to see the difference in markings between the species. These sharks are oviparous (egg laying) which means the young tend to stay on one area. It has been noted by marine experts Dr. Gerry Allen and Dr. Mark Erdmann that each different and unique area may have it's own species of epaulette shark. This has now been proved with tissue samples of these newly found epaulette sharks, the scientific DNA work has been done and shows that these are indeed unique species differing in each area!
Click on images for larger image
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| This is the one species in Irian Jaya
that is known Hemiscyllium freycineti |
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| New epaulette shark species from Cendrawasih Bay Hemiscyllium sp. |
New epaulette shark species |
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| This species is very likely
another new species of epaulette shark from Halmahera Hemiscyllium sp. |
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Note: All images are the property of the photographers and are protected by copyright laws. They may not be saved and reproduced in any manner without the expressed written permission of the owner.
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