Jump to content
Join the Unexplained Mysteries community today! It's free and setting up an account only takes a moment.
- Sign In or Create Account -

Researchers Find Underwater Lost World


__Kratos__

Recommended Posts

Sept. 17, 2006 — Two recent expeditions off the coast of Indonesia have revealed a remarkable "lost world" of marine species that researchers believe are new to science, including a shark that "walks" on its fins.

"It was extraordinary," said Roger McManus of Conservation International, which conducted the expeditions along with the Indonesian government. "These expeditions uncovered what we believe are almost 60 new species to science."

One of the most unusual finds are two new small epaulette sharks that swim among coral reefs and have an odd way of moving around.

"They sort of walk on their pectoral fins," McManus said. "They spend a lot of time on the bottom and they're hunting for mussels and crabs and the things that live in the sand or on the sand. They're extraordinary animals."

The team also discovered a variety of other species, including 20 new corals, eight shrimp species, and 24 new fish including a colorful "flasher" wrasse. Decked out in bright pink, yellow, blue and green hues, the male rapidly "flashes" different colors as part of a mating ritual.

The animals were discovered in an area called the Bird's Head Seascape in the northwestern part of Indonesia's Papua province, one of the richest underwater habitats on Earth. It's in an area known as the "Coral Triangle" that includes Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands.

Researchers working to establish more extensive protections for the region said more than 1,200 species of fish and 75 percent of the world's known coral are found there.

Fishing Techniques Threaten Area

The seascape faces increasing threats due to over fishing, McManus said, and from fishing methods that use dynamite that destroys reefs. Pollution from land-based mining and logging operations also create problems in coastal waters, he said.

"All of that activity results in pollution in the oceans," McManus said. "These are very complex ecosystems. And their health depends on having a wide variety and diversity of animals that inhabit them."

Read More Here (video in link)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pretty amazing finds. :tu: The ocean is so big and holds many wonders for us to find yet. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 
  • Replies 9
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • _Nyx_

    3

  • frogfish

    3

  • 00000000000000000000000000

    1

  • RollingThunder06

    1

Top Posters In This Topic

A walking shark should be imagined as a shark that wals, but rather just a shark like a wobbegong that waddles over the seafloor on it's pectoral fins.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Apparently some people in the Crypto forum did :lol:

Well...the crypto people are a special breed, shall we say.

Very interesting story though, it's almost comical to watch that thing move.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well...the crypto people are a special breed, shall we say

:yes:

Very interesting story though, it's almost comical to watch that thing move.

Cute little shark.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That was great to watch that. Hope they don't become extinct by people catching them just to say they have one of the new founded species.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.