Marine Mimics Found Off Thailand

Live Science reported findings from a rich seascape off the coast of Thailand: “Scientists combing through undersea fauna off Indonesia’s Papua province said Monday they had discovered dozens of new species, including a shark that walks on its fins and a shrimp that looks like a praying mantis.”
    National Geographic posted even more information about this find, including pictures and video.  Apparently the shark can swim with its fins, but has a habit of “walking” along the reef surface.  “Biologists studying these sharks suggest they could serve as models for the first animals that moved from marine environments onto land,” the article says.

Think of the wonderful new possibilities this opens up for evolutionary storytelling.  The shark is obviously practicing for its eventual debut on land.  And shiver me timbers, shrimp must have retained developmental genes shared by praying mantises, leading to a most remarkable case of convergent evolution.
    The focus of the article was on the sad state of conservation of this area, and how local fisherman are using methods that threaten these unique species.  This time the liberals can’t blame the Christian right.