When is an elephant not an elephant?
When it's an elephant shark, of course. One of the world's silliest named sharks has arrived at Auckland's Kelly Tarltons Aquarium.
The peculiar-looking, cheeky-grinned fish are part of the Sea Life Aquarium's Breed, Rescue and Protect programme.
The elephant shark is one of the cuter sharks around, to be sure. And if you look at it from the right angle, with your eyes squinting hard enough, it can vaguely resemble an elephant.
But just like the elephant seal, the elephant shark is in no way, shape or form an elephant.
As far as the aliases of the callorhinchus milii go, however, "elephant shark" is a good one. I'd rather that than "plownose chimera" -- although "ghost shark" is admittedly pretty cool.
As it turns out, there are quite a few sharks out there with silly names.
The "whale shark" isn't a whale, the "zebra shark" isn't a zebra and the "angel shark", well, it's no angel.
Sharks are generally considered some of the toughest ocean-dwellers in existence, but there's nothing tough about being named the "frilled shark". But then, even silly frilly would probably mock the "cookie cutter shark".
No silly shark party would be complete without the "birdbeak dogfish" and "tasseled wobbegong", who would probably enjoy dancing to the sounds of "starry smooth-hound" featuring the "bowmouth guitarfish".
You know who wouldn't get invited to any party? The "flaccid catshark".
And spare a thought for the poor old "dumb shark", too. Such cruelty.
For now, the silliest shark at Kelly Tarltons remains new arrival, the elephant shark.
Newshub.
