Four newly discovered species of shark are capable of moving across land using their four fins as stubby legs, bringing the total number of known walking sharks to nine, according to research published Tuesday in the journal Marine and Freshwater Research.
The sharks, described as the most recently evolved types known to science, still live in the water, where they use their fins to crawl across coral reefs. They can also briefly wriggle across dry land to migrate from one tide pool to another.
While a shark that can march out of the ocean may sound alarming, the scientists behind the discovery say the animals present no danger to humans. "At less than a meter long on average, walking sharks present no threat to people," said University of Queensland researcher and lead author Christine Dudgeon in a press release. "But their ability to withstand low oxygen environments and walk on their fins gives them a remarkable edge over their prey of small crustaceans and mollusks."
The findings add to a small but growing list of shark species known to use their fins for movement outside typical swimming. The research was first reported by CNET.
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