Scientists Catch a Brand-New Walking Shark Species by Hand in Papua New Guinea

A Shark That Walks — and Was Unknown to Science Until Now

A night dive to study sharks that can walk on land surfaced with something even rarer — a species entirely unknown to science. "New shark species don't come along that often, and it's most definitely the first one named after me," said a surprised Dr. Christine Dudgeon of the University of the Sunshine Coast. She wasn't just a witness to the discovery — she caught one by hand and carefully guided it back to the study boat.

Now officially called Dudgeon's Walking Shark (*Hemiscyllium dudgeonae*), the nocturnal species found only in a tiny area off southeastern Papua New Guinea was scientifically confirmed in a collaborative paper published in an international journal. It is the first new species described for the genus since 2013. Ph.D. student Jess Blakeway, lead author of the paper, was the first to see the specimen in the boat's lights as it was brought in by her supervisor.

What Makes This Shark So Unusual

Walking sharks are small, predominantly nocturnal, benthic sharks that typically reach total lengths of 70–80 cm, with the largest reported at 107 cm. They eat invertebrates off the seafloor and are not dangerous to humans, and are famous for using all four fins as limbs to amble across reef flats at low tide. It's a sight that looks almost prehistoric — a shark that doesn't so much swim as stroll.

The new species is distinguished by a unique pattern of brown freckles interspersed with white spots and dashes across its body, along with a prominent eye-like marking behind its head. Its local name is *kadedekedewa*, which loosely translates to "dog shark" or "lazy shark" due to its slow, four-limbed gait. Genetic evidence indicated that the new species is closely related to *Hemiscyllium michaeli*.

How the Discovery Was Made

The new *Hemiscyllium* species was discovered during surveys conducted between 2023 and 2025 in Papua New Guinea's Milne Bay province. Survey methods included diving, snorkeling, and reef walking to catch walking sharks by hand, with 70 dedicated surveys completed at 35 sites in 15 locations. That's an enormous amount of fieldwork — and it paid off in a significant way.

The research also revealed new information about the geographic distribution of two other epaulette species off the island of New Guinea. Walking sharks comprise ten similar species of carpet sharks whose identification relies on distinctive color patterns, genetic markers, and geographically restricted distributions. The genus is endemic to Australia and the island of New Guinea, a region that coincides with the global hotspot for carpet shark diversity, shaped by complex tectonic and sea-level histories.

A Species Already Facing Threats

The findings immediately raised concerns about the new shark's vulnerability due to its restricted home range, habitat degradation, fishing activity, and climate change. Researchers warn that *Hemiscyllium dudgeonae* may be highly vulnerable because of its apparently limited distribution. Being newly discovered and already potentially endangered is a sobering combination.

"We hope to collect more data on our next research trip in October to help the IUCN Red List assess the species as Vulnerable or Endangered with Extinction," said Blakeway. Dr. Dudgeon, for whom the shark is named, has researched the genus for more than two decades. Her team's work is a reminder that even in 2026, the ocean still holds creatures entirely new to science — and that finding them may be the first step in a race to protect them before their habitats disappear.