Jade sent this one along. This is a picture (and a close up) of a shark caught in Malaysian waters with what appears to be a pair of webbed feet.The woman in the photo, Looi, wanted to cook some fish for lunch and bought this shark with that end in mind. It wasn't until she got the shark home that she discovered the feet. She posed for the photo, then called her husband, unsure what to do next. They agreed that she should return the shark, since, according to Chinese belief, it is bad luck to eat fish with any unusual characteristics. She returned it to the fisherman who had caught it, who then promptly returned to the sea.
I'm no ichthyologist, but don't male sharks have pronged genitals in the same region as these 'feet'?
The article doesn't say if the shark survived this ordeal. I assume not. But I want to know if Malaysia can expect any more legged fish in its waters. Also, why give up the chance to be the first human to dine on shark legs? I imagine they'd be tasty if rolled in batter, fried, and slathered with sauce.
I'm eating a tuna sandwich as I write this post, and I'm quickly losing my appetite. Thanks, Jade.
Photo source: UnderwaterTimes.com
Those look like claspers to me. Male sharks have two paired claspers (developmentally they come from the pelvic fin, so they're paired) which each have a groove/channel for transporting sperm to females.
ReplyDeleteWOW! They look like feet even if they are really "pronged genitals". It's fun to be superstitious/mystic even if there's a rational explanation.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Why wouldn't the shark survive? =( Let's be optimistic here!
The shark didn't survive. It was dead when it was sold to her. That's just how you buy fish. Hasn't anyone done that before?
ReplyDeleteI know they're not exactly legs, but the thought of sharks evolving ways to come on land is a neat idea for a horror movie ;)
...candygram....
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how fish are sold; they're so expensive in the midwest, I just eat seafood out. Besides, I thought this site posted on a huge lobster or something that was sold and it was so big they released it back to the sea.
ReplyDeleteAlso in Mexico they sell live iguanas to take home and eat, as sad and horrifying that is to me.
I'm not a shark. I'm a dolphin.
ReplyDeleteI here ya, niner. I've been to enough Chinese markets where everything is sold alive (or semi-alive). I wasn't sure either.
ReplyDeleteClaspers. The lady must have never bought a male shark before.
ReplyDeletehttp://xenophilius.wordpress.com/2008/04/04/malaysian-fisherman-reels-in-shark-with-webbed-feet/
ReplyDeleteSorry, you have to cut/paste for link.
Basically, the shark died happy!
That is an unusual picture indeed. Wouldn't someone in that area know what was what though?
ReplyDeleteWow. Following various links related to these pictures, including this Digg link from a while back:
ReplyDeletehttp://digg.com/general_sciences/Explain_this_creationists
has made my brain burn from all the stupid out there on the internet. It BURNS!
Jade said...
ReplyDelete" I know they're not exactly legs, but the thought of sharks evolving ways to come on land is a neat idea for a horror movie ;) "
*cough* Gyo *cough*