Walking sharks and kung fu shrimp
Off the coast of Indonesia researchers have found sharks that walk on their fins and shrimp that look like praying mantis, along with a bunch of other new species.
Photos on National Geographic, which goes on to say:
Scientists have clocked the shrimps' arms moving at 23 miles (37 kilometers) a second as they snare small fish and other reef critters. The speed and force has broken aquarium glass.
"That's a lot of power, by the way," McManus said. "These guys are the terrorists of the coral reef ... They are really powerful, dangerous animals."Among the new fish species are several types of "flasher" wrasses, named for the brilliant pink, yellow, blue, and green colors males display to entice females to mate.
All the new species were discovered in less than six weeks, which McManus says is a remarkable feat. That many are sizable creatures like fish is even more impressive.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that all of these cool critters are threatened by dynamite and cyanide fishing by locals and the likely introduction of commercial fishing. What to do? Along with better fishing methods, Conservation International is calling for a network of marine reserves.
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