Here's something cool I learned today. There's actually a species of shark that can walk on land!

Don't worry though, a great blue shark isn't coming for you while sunbathing anytime soon.

The species I am talking about is actually a rather small shark called the epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum), typically found in shallow, tropical waters off Australia and New Guinea.

Now, what's really interesting about this little fella is that it navigates its habitat mostly by walking rather than swimming:

> As an adaptation for navigating its complex reef environment, the epaulette shark moves by seemingly walking, bending its body from side-to-side and pushing off of the substrate with its paddle-shaped pectoral and pelvic fins. Its gait is similar to that of salamanders, an example of convergent evolution. [source](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epaulette_shark)

But what's even more interesting is that they use the same type of locomotion to clumsily "walk" on land ! They usually do that to access another pool of water to find fresh prey it if they get trap on the reef floor die to the tide 

Here are a cool video from National Geographic showing this cool shark in action

https://youtu.be/tRDwzQ3gz8Q

And one by the one and only David Attenborough 

https://youtu.be/hdlHMMsP_ZI

Our great great great ancestors first walked on land 200 million years ago.. One can only imagine what these little fuckers could achieve in 200 million years !

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Ok, let's ask chatgbt 🤣

> How would an intelligent bipedal life form evolved from epaulette sharks look like

> Epaulette sharks are a type of small, bottom-dwelling shark that are found in shallow coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. If an intelligent bipedal life form were to evolve from epaulette sharks, it would likely have several unique adaptations to its body structure.

> Firstly, it is important to note that the evolution of bipedalism in sharks is highly unlikely due to the structural limitations of their skeleton. However, for the purposes of this hypothetical scenario, let's assume that this adaptation could occur.

> One of the key features of epaulette sharks is their ability to "walk" on their fins using a unique form of locomotion. Therefore, an intelligent bipedal life form evolved from epaulette sharks may have legs that are structurally similar to their fins, with a flexible joint system that allows for a walking motion.

> They may also have a highly developed brain and nervous system, as these are crucial for intelligence and problem-solving abilities. Their eyes may be larger and more complex than those of typical epaulette sharks, allowing for greater visual acuity and depth perception.

> Given that epaulette sharks are small, it is possible that an intelligent bipedal life form evolved from them may also be small in size. They may have a sleek and streamlined body shape, similar to that of their shark ancestors, which would enable them to move quickly and efficiently through their environment.

> Overall, an intelligent bipedal life form evolved from epaulette sharks would likely have a unique combination of adaptations that allow for both bipedal locomotion and increased cognitive abilities.

Well... That was a much more complex answer then I expected!

Anyways, hope you enjoyed learning about this interesting creature!

Posted with [STEMGeeks](https://stemgeeks.net)