Walking sharks, Australia's deadly summer & a flatworm puts on a show

[View this email in your browser]( [walking shark]( A team of researchers recently introduced the world to four new species of "walking shark" discovered in waters off northern Australia and New Guinea. While their name conjures up images of sharks strolling along sandy shores, these ornately patterned fish lack the physiology for life outside the water. Although they are known to "walk" on land, they are more adept at using their fins to pull themselves along shallow reefs – a trait that helps them catch fish and invertebrates. [Read more]( HIGHLIGHTS [Bushfire helicopter Australia]( Bushfires: Can Australia's ecosystems recover? Most plants and animals that have adapted to fire may recover. But the ecological costs of repetitive, high-severity wildfires on ecosystems could be colossal. [Read more]( [Bushfire]( Australia's devastating summer continues to wreak havoc Relentless bushfires, flash flooding, dust storms and a deluge of hail – Australia has been hit with some of the worst weather on record in recent months. [Read more]( FEATURED VIDEO [Lion plays with antelope prey]( Lion plays with antelope prey Watch as a lion toys with its newborn antelope prey. While it doesn’t seem like much of a meal, this is a great opportunity for the young cat to practise its hunting skills. WATCH THIS Whale Hunters In the twentieth century, whaling ships killed 1.5 million whales in Antarctica, bringing the behemoths to the brink of extinction. This is the unseen story of whaling at the edge of the world. [Watch now]( Pride in Battle Pride in Battle is the epic story of the rapidly growing Xakanaxa pride as it battles to survive through one of the Okavango’s harshest winters. [Watch now]( IMAGE OF THE WEEK [Gator with GPS tag]( Gators in hats, anyone? A team of scientists in South Carolina have been fitting alligators with tracking devices that resemble adorable top hats. [(Read more about it here.)]( Image © South Carolina Department of Natural Resources AROUND THE GLOBE [Ground squirrel]( Planet Earth: Six cool squirrel species Squirrel Appreciation Day was a week ago. In case you missed it, here are six amazing squirrel species you should get to know better. [Read more]( [mountain gorilla]( Uganda: Counting gorillas can be tricky Surveys to measure mountain gorilla numbers may have missed multiple groups and individuals due to differences in research techniques. [Read more]( [marine flatworm]( Indonesia: Flatworm sails past diver They say "if you've got it, flaunt it". And this marine flatworm certainly has it! Watch as this ribbon-like creature puts on a mesmerising display. [Watch now]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( [Website]( Copyright © 2020 Earth Touch News Network, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](