Wobbegong
Temporal range:
Spotted wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus,
showing the camouflage pattern and skin flaps typical of wobbegongs
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Chondrichthyes
Subclass: Elasmobranchii
Subdivision: Selachimorpha
Order: Orectolobiformes
Family: Orectolobidae
T. N. Gill, 1896
Genera

Eucrossorhinus
Orectolobus
Sutorectus

Wobbegong is the common name given to the 12 species of carpet sharks in the family Orectolobidae. 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. The word wobbegong is believed to come from an Australian Aboriginal language, meaning "shaggy beard", referring to the growths around the mouth of the shark of the western Pacific.

Description

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 with a symmetrical pattern of bold markings which resembles a carpet. Because of this striking pattern, wobbegongs and their close relatives are often referred to as carpet sharks. The camouflage is improved by the presence of small weed-like whisker lobes[1] surrounding the wobbegong's jaw, which help to camouflage it and act as sensory barbs. Wobbegongs make use of their camouflage to hide among rocks and catch smaller fish which swim too close, typical of ambush predators. Wobbegongs also have a powerful jaw with needle-like teeth that assist in catching reef fish and other sharks for food. The blood cells of several species of wobbegong have also been described.[2]

Interaction with humans

Wobbegongs are generally not considered dangerous to humans,[3] but have attacked swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers who inadvertently come close to them.[3] The Australian Shark Attack File contains more than 50 records of unprovoked attacks by wobbegongs,[3] and the International Shark Attack File 28 records,[4] none of them fatal. Wobbegongs have also bitten surfers.[5] Wobbegongs are very flexible and can easily bite a hand holding onto their tail.[6] They have many small but sharp teeth and their bite can be severe, even through a wetsuit; having once bitten, they have been known to hang on and can be very difficult to remove.[7]

In Australia, wobbegong skin is used to make leather.[8]

Captivity

Although most wobbegong species are unsuitable for home aquaria due to their large adult size, this has not stopped some of the larger species from being sold in the aquarium trade.[9] Small wobbegong species, such as the tasselled wobbegong and Ward's wobbegong, are "ideal" sharks for home aquarists to keep because they are an appropriate size and are lethargic, enabling them to be accommodated within the limited space of a home tank, although they will consume tankmates, even quite large ones.[9] Some aquarists, by contrast, see the lack of activity to be a drawback to keeping wobbegongs, and prefer more active sharks.[9] Wobbegongs are largely nocturnal and, due to their slow metabolism, do not have to be fed as often as other sharks. Most do well on two feedings weekly. Underfed wobbegongs can be recognised by visibly atrophied dorsal musculature.[9]

Genera and species

Orectolobus leptolineatus

The 12 living species of wobbegong, in three genera, are:[10]

Fossil genera include:

  • Eometlaouia Noubhani & Cappetta, 2002

Conservation status

Conservation status of extant wobbegong species
Species Common name(s) IUCN Red List status Population trend Reference
Eucrossorhinus dasypogon Tasselled wobbegong Least concern Unknown [13]
Orectolobus floridus Floral banded wobbegong Least concern Unknown [14]
Orectolobus halei Gulf wobbegong, banded wobbegong Least concern Stable [15]
Orectolobus hutchinsi Western wobbegong Least concern Unknown [16]
Orectolobus japonicus Japanese wobbegong Data deficient Unknown [17]
Orectolobus leptolineatus Indonesian wobbegong Near Threatened Unknown [18]
Orectolobus maculatus Spotted wobbegong Least concern Unknown [19]
Orectolobus ornatus Ornate wobbegong Least concern Unknown [20]
Orectolobus parvimaculatus Dwarf spotted wobbegong Least concern Unknown [21]
Orectolobus reticulatus Network wobbegong Data deficient Unknown [22]
Orectolobus wardi Northern wobbegong Least concern Unknown [23]
Sutorectus tentaculatus Cobbler wobbegong Least concern Unknown [24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Wobbegongs - five species encountered in Queensland". Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries. 2009-03-02. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  2. ↑ Old JM, Huveneers C (2006). Morphology of the blood cells from three species of wobbegong sharks (Orectolobus species) on the East Coast of N. S. W. Zoo Biology. 25(1), 72-83. DOI: 10.1002/zoo.20079
  3. 1 2 3 John G. West (2011). "Changing patterns of shark attacks in Australian waters" (PDF). Marine and Freshwater Research. pp. 744–754.
  4. ↑ "Species Implicated in Attacks - International Shark Attack File". Retrieved 2018-04-06.
  5. ↑ "Shark attack victim Kirra-Bella Olsson, 13, 'laughed' after ankle and calf were mauled by a wobbegong". The Daily Telegraph. 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2014-10-19.
  6. ↑ Kuiter, Rudie (1999). Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia (amended ed.). New Holland Publishers (Aust.) Pty Ltd. p. 12. ISBN 1-86436-091-7.
  7. ↑ "Shark sinks its teeth in for the long haul". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2004-02-12. Retrieved 2006-06-14.
  8. ↑ Debra A. Rose; International Traffic Network (1 December 1996). An overview of world trade in sharks and other cartilaginous fishes. TRAFFIC International. ISBN 978-1-85850-114-7.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Michael, Scott W. (March 2004). "Sharks at Home". Aquarium Fish Magazine. pp. 20–29.
  10. ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2009). "Orectolobidae" in FishBase. January 2009 version.
  11. ↑ Huveneers (2006). "Redescription of two species of wobbegongs (Chondrichthyes: Orectolobidae) with elevation of Orectolobus halei Whitley 1940 to species level" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1284: 29–51.
  12. ↑ Last, Chidlow & Compagno (2006). "A new wobbegong shark, Orectolobus hutchinsi n. sp. (Orectolobiformes: Orectolobidae) from southwestern Australia" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1239: 35–48.
  13. ↑ Charlie Huveneers; Richard Pillans (2015-02-18). "Eucrossorhinus dasypogon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-02-18: e.T41873A68623121. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41873A68623121.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  14. ↑ Charlie Huveneers; Rory McAuley (2015-02-18). "Orectolobus floridus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-02-18: e.T161664A68638011. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T161664A68638011.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  15. ↑ Charlie Huveneers; David Pollard; Ian Gordon; Anthony Flaherty; John Pogonoski (2015-03-23). "Orectolobus halei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-03-23: e.T161709A68638176. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T161709A68638176.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  16. ↑ Charlie Huveneers; Rory McAuley (2015-02-18). "Orectolobus hutchinsi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-02-18: e.T42717A68638402. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T42717A68638402.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  17. ↑ Rigby, C.L.; Bin Ali, A.; Bineesh, K.K.; Chen, X.; Derrick, D.; Dharmadi Ebert, D.A.; Fahmi, Fernando, D.; Gautama, D.A.; Haque, A.B.; Ho, H.; Hsu, H.; Maung, A.; Vo, V.Q.; Sianipar, A.; Tanay, D.; Utzurrum, J.A.T.; Yuneni, R.R. & Zhang, J. (2020). "Orectolobus japonicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161563A124507360. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T161563A124507360.en. Retrieved 10 August 2023.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ↑ Dulvy, N.K.; Bin Ali, A.; Derrick, D.; Fahmi, Utzurrum, J.A.T.; Yuneni, R.R. (2021). "Orectolobus leptolineatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T176486152A176486163. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T176486152A176486163.en. Retrieved 10 August 2023.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ↑ Charlie Huveneers; David Pollard; Ian Gordon; Anthony Flaherty; John Pogonoski (2015-03-23). "Orectolobus maculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-03-23: e.T41837A68638559. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41837A68638559.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  20. ↑ Charlie Huveneers; David Pollard; Ian Gordon; Anthony Flaherty; John Pogonoski (2015-02-20). "Orectolobus ornatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-02-20: e.T41838A68638906. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41838A68638906.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  21. ↑ Charlie Huveneers; Rory McAuley (2015-02-18). "Orectolobus parvimaculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-02-18: e.T161651A68639242. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T161651A68639242.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  22. ↑ Shannon Corrigan; Charlie Huveneers (2015-02-18). "Orectolobus reticulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-02-18: e.T195439A68639415. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T195439A68639415.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  23. ↑ Charlie Huveneers; Shannon Corrigan; Richard Pillans (2015-02-19). "Orectolobus wardi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-02-19: e.T41839A68639575. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41839A68639575.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.
  24. ↑ Charlie Huveneersersity); Colin Simpfendorfer (2015-02-18). "Sutorectus tentaculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015-02-18: e.T41864A68646166. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T41864A68646166.en. Retrieved 2020-07-06.

Tasselled wobbegong. Oceana. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2021, from https://oceana.org/marine-life/sharks-rays/tasselled-wobbegong.

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