CHONDRICHTHYES: SQUALEA: ORECTOLOBIDAE: Orectolobus

Orectolobus ornatus (de Vis, 1883)

Carpet Shark/ Ornate Wobbegong

Photos & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland.

Range: Coastal and reef regions around most of Australia and New Guinea north to the southern half of Japan.

Diagnosis: A carpet shark with distinct chocolate dorsal bands on a pale brown or tan background. Bands are light-edged and contain light internal rings.

Photographed at Ocean Journey, Denver, Colorado.

Description: Grows to 2.9 m/9 feet. Body depressed. Head with frilly appendages around mouth, several with branching smaller structures. Five fleshy flaps along face below and extending posterior to the eye. First dorsal fin insertion about over the latter third of pelvic fins. Dorsal fins subequal. Anal fin small, near tail.

Natural History: Wobbegongs are generally sit and wait predators that blend in with their substrate very well. Though typically peaceful, sharks in shallow waters, r those annoyed by people, may bite viciously.

Reproduction: Live birth, producing young that are about 20 cm/ 8 inches in length.

Taxonomy & Relationships: There are four other species of wobbegongs known: O. japonicus, O. maculatus, O. chipmilleri, and O. wardi.

Variation:

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen: QM I.164 (dry mount), locality Moreton Bay, Queensland Coast.

Literature: Click on book to order.

Compagno, Leonard. 1984. FAO Species Catalogue, Vol. 4, Part 1. Sharks of the World. U.N. Development Programme, Rome. ISBN: 92-5-101384-5.

Garman, Samuel. 1997. The Plagiostomia (sharks, skates and rays). Benthic Press, L.A. ISBN: 0-9657121-0-9.

Last, Peter, and J. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. ISBN: 0-643-05143-0.

Sprackland, Robert. 1999. Key to the Sharks and Rays of the World. Young Forest Company, Belmont, CA.