The Spotted Wobbegong Shark
Orectolobus maculatus
A group of sharks with an unusual name, wobbegong sharks are carpet sharks. There are 12 different species of wobbegong shark, but today we will be looking at the Spotted Wobbegong Shark. Distributed across the Western Pacific Ocean and Eastern Indian Ocean around Australia. They are found in habitats such as tidepools and inshore reefs and will only inhabit depths of about 360 ft.
Spotted Wobbegong Sharks are small sharks with camouflaging patterns and colors along their entire body except their belly and can be identified from other Wobbegong species because of the mess of spots also appearing on their body. They have flat bodies, large heads, and a fleshy beard. Their beards also give the sharks their name, as wobbegong is believed to originate from an Australian Aboriginal language which translates wobbegong as “shaggy beard”.
Like other species of wobbegong, the spotted wobbegong is fairly small, only growing to a maximum size of about 4 ft in length. Their large heads are filled with sharp fang-like teeth. The spotted wobbegong is a nocturnal animal that is most active during nighttime hours and will tend to rest on the bottom of the seabed during daytime.
These sharks are ambush predators and are masters of camouflage, Lying in wait until prey approaches within about 2 ft from the shark’s head, upon which it will strike with incredible speed. They will also create powerful suction to pull prey towards their jaws. The Spotted Wobbegong Sharks “beard” can also act like the whiskers of a cat by helping the shark to detect prey within narrow crevices in reefs. Their beards also help camouflage their large heads by helping to obscure the outline of their head, better blending them into the seabed. These sharks will hunt fish and crustaceans among other things. Juveniles of this species are usually born in coastal areas in more shallow water in litter sizes of up to 37 young.