A new “walking shark” was found in Papua New Guinea; scientists say its tiny range could put it at risk of extinction

People in southeastern Papua New Guinea have a local name for a small shark that moves across shallow reefs using all four fins like limbs: kadedekedewa, loosely meaning “dog shark” or “lazy shark” because of its slow, four-limbed gait. Scientists have now confirmed that animal as an entirely new species, naming it Hemiscyllium dudgeonae, or Dudgeon's walking shark.