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Spotted wobbegong

 
Spotted Wobbegong

 
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The spotted wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus, is a carpet shark
Carpet shark

The order Orectolobiformes, also collectively known as the carpet sharks because many members have carpet-like patterned markings, includes a number of familiar types of sharks, such as the nurse sharks and whale shark, as well as some unusual species, such as the blind shark....
 in the family
Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
 Orectolobidae, found in the eastern Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
 from Western Australia
Western Australia

Western Australia is a States and territories of Australia occupying the entire western third of the Australia . The nation's largest state and the second largest subnational entity in the world, it has 2.1 million inhabitants , 85% of whom live in the south-west corner of the state....
 to southern Queensland
Queensland

Queensland is a States and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south-west and New South Wales to the south....
, between latitudes 20° S
20th parallel south

The 20th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 20 degree south of the Earth equator.Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 20? south passes through:...
 to 40° S
40th parallel south

The 40th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 40 degree south of the Earth equator.Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 40? south passes through:...
. It reaches a length of 3 metre
Metre

The metre or meter is a Unit of measurement of length. It is the SI base unit of length in the metric system and in the International System of Units , used around the world for general and scientific purposes....
s (10 feet).

spotted wobbegong's caudal fin has its upper lobe hardly elevated above the body axis, with a strong terminal lobe and subterminal notch but no ventral lobe.






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The spotted wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus, is a carpet shark
Carpet shark

The order Orectolobiformes, also collectively known as the carpet sharks because many members have carpet-like patterned markings, includes a number of familiar types of sharks, such as the nurse sharks and whale shark, as well as some unusual species, such as the blind shark....
 in the family
Family (biology)

In biological classification, family is a taxonomic rank. Exact details of formal nomenclature depend on the Nomenclature Codes which applies....
 Orectolobidae, found in the eastern Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering about 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by Asia ; on the west by Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and Australia; and on the south by the Southern Ocean ....
 from Western Australia
Western Australia

Western Australia is a States and territories of Australia occupying the entire western third of the Australia . The nation's largest state and the second largest subnational entity in the world, it has 2.1 million inhabitants , 85% of whom live in the south-west corner of the state....
 to southern Queensland
Queensland

Queensland is a States and territories of Australia of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory to the west, South Australia to the south-west and New South Wales to the south....
, between latitudes 20° S
20th parallel south

The 20th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 20 degree south of the Earth equator.Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 20? south passes through:...
 to 40° S
40th parallel south

The 40th parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 40 degree south of the Earth equator.Starting at the Prime Meridian and heading eastwards, the parallel 40? south passes through:...
. It reaches a length of 3 metre
Metre

The metre or meter is a Unit of measurement of length. It is the SI base unit of length in the metric system and in the International System of Units , used around the world for general and scientific purposes....
s (10 feet).

Appearance

The spotted wobbegong's caudal fin has its upper lobe hardly elevated above the body axis, with a strong terminal lobe and subterminal notch but no ventral lobe. Colouration is dark back, with light O-shaped markings obscuring darker saddles.

Habitat

Spotted wobbegongs are found on the continental shelf
Continental shelf

The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain, and was part of the continent during the glacial periods, but is undersea during Ice age such as the current epoch by relatively shallow seas and Bay....
, from the intertidal down to at least 110 m, and commonly on coral and rocky reefs, under piers, and on sand bottoms. It may occur in water barely deep enough to cover the fish, and has been observed climbing ridges between tide pools with its back out of water. It is nocturnal, and feeds on bottom invertebrate
Invertebrate

An invertebrate is an animal lacking a vertebral column. The group includes 98% of all animal species ? all animals except those in the Chordate subphylum vertebrate ....
s and bony fishes. It has been known to bite people who step on it or put their feet near its mouth, and can and will bite when molested and provoked. Its flesh is highly regarded and sometimes utilized for human consumption, and its skin is sometimes utilized for leather. It is regarded as a pest by lobster fishers.

Reproduction

Reproduction is ovoviviparous with up to 37 pups in a litter.

See also

  • List of sharks
    List of sharks

    Shark classificationSharks belong to the superorder Selachimorpha in the subclass Elasmobranchii in the class Chondrichthyes. It is a fish. The Elasmobranchii also include batoidea and skate s; the Chondrichthyes also include Chimaeras....