New Epaulette Shark Species Hemiscyllium dudgeonae Discovered in PNG

A research team from the University of the Sunshine Coast, led by ecologist Christine Dudgeon and marine biologist Jess Blakeway, identified a previously unknown epaulette shark in Milne Bay on the southeast coast of Papua New Guinea. Local residents call the shark “Kadedekedewa,” meaning “dog shark” or “lazy shark,” a reference to its distinctive waddling gait across the reef at low tide.

The scientists first observed the animal in March 2025 while searching for the leopard epaulette shark. After capturing the specimen, they noted white‑striped markings on its brown body that differed from known species. Subsequent night dives yielded eleven additional individuals with the same pattern. Genetic analysis confirmed the shark as a new species, which the team formally described as *Hemiscyllium dudgeonae*—the tenth known member of the epaulette‑shark group, named after Dudgeon. The species is harmless to humans, feeding on small crustaceans, worms and bony fish, and inhabits shallow seagrass and coral‑sparse areas. The findings were published in the Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation after fieldwork conducted from 2023 to 2025.