This species of walking sharks are located in the Australia-New Guinea region, often frequenting the islands, reefs, also shoals found in these places. To be exact most of these animals will found topographies that are far main areas, near shallow seas. But, other than the noted locale, these unusual sharks are to be found on the Indonesian island of Halmahera only. Besides this, they cannot be seen elsewhere, which raises the question of why they are to be found in the locations.
One of the scientists Dr. Christine Dudgeon, from the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University, made remarks about this fascinating shark species. Walking sharks have unique and ornate markings, are the top hunters in these reefs during low tide. Their fins are adapted for walking in these conditions to seek food, in such shallow water.
By definition, these walking sharks are also called bamboo sharks or longtail carpet sharks. Part of an established genus of nine species that are active at night, bottom-dwellers, and with unique markings compared to other sharks. A non-threatening shark to humans, but able to breathe in low oxygen conditions, with developed fins for walking. Adapting a walking motion allows them to access their food that is mollusks and crustaceans.
They are not the biggest shark and are rather on the smaller size from 33.5 to 48 inches, for the biggest walking sharks to be found in their specific habitats. Locomotion is achieved by wriggling bodies on the reef, then pushing forward with pelvic and pectoral fins to simulate walking.
A study to know when the walking shark, deviated from other sharks that led to living and walking in shallow reefs. One of the methods to find out is the dated molecular clock methodology. Taking genetic samples from shark fins and checking the changes and alterations in the genes of several shark species. It will yield an indicator of the date when each kind of shark because establish as a distinct animal.
It was later concluded from the method and comparing species were narrowed down to the mitochondria in their DNA. Another point is that it is passed down for the females of the species.
Transmission of the DNA codes for the maternal mitochondria led to the creation of characteristics like walking on fins. Another is that mitochondria powered the cells to enable replication of the mitochondria that established the maternal genetic code. One thing to note is that sharks as a genus have been in earth's seas for a total of 400 million years. This species of shark is just a mere 9 million years old, relatively newly evolved too.
One of the reasons why the walking shark evolved is the process of "speciation", this usually happens when individuals of a species get separated. Especially if the location is remote, with the need to adapt ways to survive and procreate. This new group is different from the parents and establish a new species from radiated adaptations to survive.
There are several assumptions that researchers are postulating that led to this kind of "speciation" for the walking shark.
a. By learning to walk or swim that would increase their chances of finding food, caused some sharks to get marooned, or trapped unintentionally. Changes in the environment and other factors led to separation from the main population.
b. Ancestors of the walking shark were hitch-hiking on moving masses of land or got trapped in drifting islands.
c. Isolation from the main group of sharks, caused a specialization when individuals develop separate genetic features.
Read: Marine Biologists Solve Mystery of How 'Walking' Sharks Split
