The size of Anna Creek
Station in South
Australia. This cattle
farm is the
biggest in
the world
and at its
current size is
larger than
many countries.23,677 SQ.KM
A
USTRALIAN WHALE shark
research organisation
ECOCEAN is exploring the
mysteries of whale shark
migration. From May to August, it will
be deploying satellite tags on sharks in
Ningaloo Marine Park for its second
Whale Shark Race Around the World,
which will search for clues on where
these huge fish breed. Each shark will be
assigned to a participating school and its
journey displayed on the ZoaTrack
website, http://www.zoatrack.org. In conjunc-
tion with our fundraiser (see page 36),Australian Geographic Society
STUDENT
SCIENCE
The AG Society is offering two
schools the opportunity to track
whale sharks around the globe.Crabs can be found in marine
habitats, such as mangroves
and rocky shore platforms, as
well as freshwater rivers and
creeks. In fact, some migrate
between marine and freshwa-
ter to complete life cycle stages. They are
remarkable animals in many ways but perhaps
most notably because they do walk sideways.
Because we humans have forward-bending knees,
we step forwards to walk. However, crabs have legs
on the sides of their body, and it is because their
knees bend outwards that they walk sideways.
Having outward-bending knees on their sides
allows crabs to flatten their bodies.Ask an expert
Why do crabs walk
sideways?Dr Nathan Waltham, freshwater ecologist,
James Cook UniversityQ
A
buzz
the AG Society is sponsoring two schools
from anywhere in Australia to enter the Race.
This usually costs $5000 and has previously
been limited to West Australian schools that
fundraise for the privilege. For more informa-
tion and how to enter your school for a
chance to join the Race, see http://www.australian
geographic.com.au/whalesharksSatellite tags deployed on
whale sharks by ECOCEAN
researchers are so small
they’re barely noticed by
the huge fi sh they track.May. June 21PHOTO CREDITS, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: SAMANTHA REYNOLDS; SAMANTHA REYNOLDS; SHUTTERSTOCK, SHUTTERSTOCK. SCIENTIFIC NAME:
Ocypode ceratophthalma