The beauty of the fauna from West Papua is incomparable. One of rare faunas that attract attention is the spotted carpet shark. This endemic marine animal of Indonesia is well known to foreign countries. This shark attracts the public’s attention because it has a beautiful body pattern.
Unique Facts About Spotted Carpet Shark, A Rare Shark from West Papua
One of the faunas from West Papua, famous for having spots like a leopard and brown skin, is included in the Hemiscyllidae family. Including rare fauna, this shark is very protected because it is rarely found.
Some unique facts about the spotted carpet shark are different from other sharks. Here are some information that turned out to be very impressive:
1. Can Survive with Low Oxygen
Accustomed to environmental adaptation, the spotted carpet shark has different physical characteristics from other types of sharks. This type of shark is less than one meter long and usually eats small fish and invertebrates.
The spotted carpet shark is harmless to humans and can survive in low oxygen environments. This is one of the advantages of this type of shark.
2. Has a Unique and Different Color
The color of this shark is unique and resembles the pattern on the body of a gecko, in contrast to other sharks, which are usually gray. Spotted carpet sharks have a body resembling a carpet and are not much different from most sharks.
The patterns scattered throughout his body were imperfectly round and black. This shark has fins on the sides, a mouth that is not too sharp, and two fins on the back like other sharks.
3. Can Walk on Coral Reefs
Another uniqueness of the rare shark from West Papua is the ability to walk on coral reefs using its fins. It must be hilarious to see this shark walking on coral reefs. You can see it if you visit West Papua.
4. Youngest Shark of the Genus Hemiscyllium
One of the faunas of the bamboo shark species from West Papua is included in the Hemiscyllidae family. The spotted carpet shark is believed to have evolved, but it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where this species came from.
Then the shark will be genetically isolated in a new area and develop into a new species. Groups of sharks already existed about 400 million years ago. The carpet shark evolved only about 9 million years ago, making it the youngest shark on earth.
5. Endemic to Tropical Shallow Waters
The spotted carpet shark can only be found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. You can find this type of shark in Indonesia by exploring the shallow waters around Raja Ampat, Halmahera, and Aru islands.
The habitat of this type of shark is in the form of shallow waters with coral reefs and shoals separated from the mainland. Even in shallow water, the spotted carpet shark remains the top predator on coral reefs when the sea water is low.
6. There are Nine Shark Species
Scientists have researched Bird’s Head Seascape, West Papua, and have found nine species of spotted carpet shark to date. Research is still ongoing and more species of carpet shark will likely be discovered.
Research on this new species was carried out by collecting DNA samples and also taking small pieces of body parts without harming the shark. After that, they will analyze and compare to create a genetic map of the genus Hemiscyllium.
Conclusion
This unique fact about the spotted carpet shark, which is now extinct in West Papua, can make you know and learn more about the fauna in Indonesia. You can see it directly if you visit the area of origin and are advised to always take care of the existing fauna.
