Orectolobidae, Gill, 1896
Wobbegong is the common name given to the 12 species of carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae. They are coined "carpet sharks" because of the bold markings and patterns that resemble carpets, allowing them to blend into their environment. The word wobbegong is thought to come from Dharug, an Australian Aboriginal language, and means shaggy beard, referring to the growths around the mouth of the shark.
They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean, chiefly around Australia and Indonesia, although one species (the Japanese wobbegong, Orectolobus japonicus) occurs as far north as Japan. Wobbegongs have adopted an ambush hunting style, aided by their ability to camouflage combined with their incredible ability of electroreception.
Although there may be small differences between species, Wobbegongs are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young (pups) in groups (litters). Species, even those known as sympatric, may have differently sized litters--from 9-45--that develop over a Triennial Ovarian Cycle. Reproduction, among many areas of research, can be difficult to study. Captivity presents research opportunities that can then alter public perception, human interactions, understanding of these creatures' habits, which subsequently alters conservation practices.
Wobbegongs are bottom-dwelling sharks, spending much of their time resting on the sea floor. Most species have a maximum length of 1.25 m (4.1 ft), but the largest, the spotted wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus, and banded wobbegong, O. halei, reach about 3 m (9.8 ft) in length.
Wobbegongs are well camouflaged by a symmetrical pattern of bold markings resembling a carpet. Because of this striking pattern, wobbegongs and their close relatives are often referred to as carpet sharks.
Wobbegongs are an endemic species, meaning they live in specific areas and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. These areas may contain specific characteristics such as ocean acidity, weather patterns, vegetation, climate and temperature, species diversity, and more.
Wobbegongs are ambush predators, meaning they wait for their prey, and attack within a moment's notice. Overall, the diets of Wobbegong sharks consist of bony fish, cephalopods, and chondrichthyans. Furthermore, there may be slight differences in the ratio of organisms consumed in each class depending on the specific species of Wobbegong and the habitat they exist in.
Wobbegong sharks have little research on their reproductive habits, yet reproductive knowledge of a species is necessary to determine their conservation status or altogether existence.
In females of a viviparous species, including Wobbegongs, fertilized eggs develop into embryos inside their body, and they eventually give birth to live pups. A litter of pups may range anywhere from 9-45 depending on the species of Wobbegong. Oretolobus Ornatus was observed to have a relatively smaller litter size (9) compared to that of Orectolobus Maculatus (21) and Oretolobus Halei (30-45).
Wobbegongs are generally not considered dangerous to humans but have attacked swimmers, surfers, snorkelers, and scuba-divers, who inadvertently come close to them. The Australian Shark Attack File contains more than 50 records of unprovoked attacks by wobbegongs since 1900 and the International Shark Attack File has 38 records, none of them fatal. Wobbegongs have many small but sharp teeth, and their bite can be severe, even through a wetsuit. Once attached via bite, they have been known to hang on and can be very difficult to remove.
Overall, sharks--including wobbegongs--are significantly impacted by human interaction Since 1991, Wobbegong sharks found in New South Wales have been commercially fished as food source in Australia. They are also commercially fished and sold as fillets to Japan, China and Malaysia.
No dive sites list Wobbegong yet. Explore the map to find sites near you.