Wobbegong

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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",<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> referring to the growths around the mouth of the shark.

Description

Wobbegongs are bottom-dwelling sharks, spending much of their time resting on the sea floor. Most species have a maximum length of Template:Convert, but the largest, the spotted wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus, and banded wobbegong, O. halei, reach about Template:Convert 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<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>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</ref>

Interaction with humans

Wobbegongs are generally not considered dangerous to humans,<ref name="West11">Template:Cite journal</ref> but have attacked swimmers, snorkelers, and scuba divers who inadvertently come close to them.<ref name="West11"/> The Australian Shark Attack File contains more than 50 records of unprovoked attacks by wobbegongs,<ref name="West11"/> and the International Shark Attack File 31 records,<ref name="ISAF">Template:Cite web</ref> none of them fatal. Wobbegongs have also bitten surfers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Wobbegongs are very flexible and can easily bite a hand holding onto their tail.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

There are many more attacks by humans on wobbegongs: in Australia, wobbegong skin is used to make leather.<ref name="RoseNetwork1996">Template:Cite book</ref>

Captivity

Although most wobbegong species are unsuitable for home aquaria due to their large adult size, this has not stopped some of the smaller species from being sold in the aquarium trade.<ref name="sharksathomeafm">Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name="sharksathomeafm" /> Some aquarists, by contrast, see the lack of activity to be a drawback to keeping wobbegongs, and prefer more active sharks.<ref name="sharksathomeafm" /> 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.<ref name="sharksathomeafm" />

Genera and species

File:Orectolobus leptolineatus alor.jpg
Orectolobus leptolineatus

The 12 living species of wobbegong, in three genera, are:<ref name=FB>Template:FishBase family</ref>

Fossil genera include:

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 <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus floridus Floral banded wobbegong Least concern Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus halei Gulf wobbegong, banded wobbegong Least concern Stable <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus hutchinsi Western wobbegong Least concern Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus japonicus Japanese wobbegong Data deficient Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus leptolineatus Indonesian wobbegong Near Threatened Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus maculatus Spotted wobbegong Least concern Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus ornatus Ornate wobbegong Least concern Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus parvimaculatus Dwarf spotted wobbegong Least concern Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus reticulatus Network wobbegong Data deficient Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Orectolobus wardi Northern wobbegong Least concern Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>
Sutorectus tentaculatus Cobbler wobbegong Least concern Unknown <ref>Template:Cite iucn</ref>

See also

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References

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