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Table of Contents
The wobbegongs belong to a group of sharks known as “carpet sharks” in the family of Orectolobidae. They are bottom-dwelling sharks that camouflage with a symmetrical pattern of bold markings.
See the fact file below for more information on Wobbegong, or you can download our 32-page Wobbegong worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
CHARACTERISTICS
- The shaggy, beard-like growth in the region around their lips is a characteristic of all Wobbegong sharks. Along with camouflage patterns like vertical stripes or dots.
- Its pectoral and pelvic fins are large, and its head and body are relatively flattened. Behind each eye is a large crescent-shaped spiracle, and it has a wide mouth.
- The majority of species have sizes between 1.5 meters and 5 feet. Still, the Spotted (Orectolobus maculatus) and Western Wobbegongs (Orectolobus hutchinsi) can reach heights of up to 3 meters and 10 feet.
- Wobbegongs have a powerful jaw with needle-like teeth that assist in catching reef fish and other sharks for food.
ANATOMY
- Wobbegongs have whiskers (called barbels) around their noses and flaps of skin that look like tiny fins around their mouths, eyes, and the sides of their heads.
- Wobbegongs have pectoral fins, pelvic fins, dorsal fins, secondary dorsal fins, anal fins, and caudal fins.
REPRODUCTION
- Wobbegong females are ovoviviparous, which means they produce eggs but do not lay them. The eggs stay inside the female wobbegong until the babies hatch.
- Baby wobbegongs frequently consume unfertilized eggs, as well as other pups because they are malnourished while growing within their mothers.
- Typically, there are over twenty pups every pregnancy; the most pups ever recorded was 37 and came from a single female.
- After birth, the pups quickly leave their mother, frequently to avoid being devoured by her.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
- Wobbegongs are located in warm seas on the continental shelf, ranging in depth from the intertidal zone to approximately 360 feet (110 m).
- The typical locations of wobbegongs are sandy bottoms, under piers, and on or near the bottom of coral and rocky reefs. It has been seen in deep water.
- Wobbegongs are found in the tropical and temperate waters of the Pacific Ocean and the eastern Indian Ocean. They do not have a widespread distribution. Most often, people see them in and around Australia and Indonesia.
- Specifically, the tasseled wobbegong can be found in the western Pacific Ocean off eastern Indonesia (Waigeo, Aru), Papua New Guinea, and northern Australia, including Barrow Island off Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and north Queensland. It is often observed residing north of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.
- The Japanese wobbegong (Orectolobus japonicus) can be found in the waters around Japan, which are pretty far north.
- Wobbegongs can be seen all year round, although, in their habitat, cooler climates, it’s more likely to see them in the spring and summer.
- As they are bottom dwellers and relatively territorial, they can reliably be found in the same area dive after dive.
BEHAVIOR
- The Wobbegong natural habitats include sandy bottoms, seagrass beds, and coral reefs.
- During the day, these nocturnal sharks hide beneath ledges in the reef and rocks.
- Small local movements over the reef appear as a clambering motion using their bottom fins, and they have even been known to wriggle out of the water completely.
HUMAN INTERACTIONS
- Wobbegongs are not dangerous to humans, but they will attack if provoked intentionally or unintentionally.
- They bite suddenly and fiercely if they are stood on or have their tail grabbed.
- They are incredibly adaptable and can quickly whip around to snap at any hand that touches their tail.
- They not only bite hard and severely, but they also cling to the trapped limb and can be difficult to dislodge, making the experience agonizing for the person.
FEEDING HABITS
- Their hunting behavior is unusual for a shark. At night, it perches somewhere on the reef and lies motionless, camouflaged against the substrate. When prey comes within striking distance, it will lunge up and attack with its large jaws and sharp teeth.
- Their diet consists of smaller fish, octopus, crab, small or juvenile sharks, and lobster. Sweepers, soldierfish, and squirrelfish are known prey items of the tasseled wobbegong, which shares their caves.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE FOR HUMANS
- The meat is delicious and is moderately popular in Australia and surrounding areas.
- The unique patterning and the tough skin of the wobbegongs produce durably decorative leather.
- Wobbegongs are relatively easy and safe to observe by the average diver in the scuba diving industry, contributing to the area’s ecotourism.
- Wobbegongs are commonly caught as bycatch in trawls, beach seines, trammel nets, lobster pots, and traps, and with line gear off the coast of New South Wales. Because they squeeze themselves inside lobster traps to eat both the bait and the catch, they are considered pests in the lobster industry.
SPECIFIC SPECIES
- Spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus).Its skin flaps along the snout border, and the unusual color patterns of dark saddles and white rings on a yellow to greenish-brown color help to identify the Spotted Wobbegong.
- They can be found in relatively shallow waters in the eastern Indian Ocean, western Queensland, and southern Australia.
- Its conservation status is “Near Threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
- Tasseled wobbegong (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon). Below its mouth, a fringe of branching skin flaps wraps around the front of the skull. The back and fins have a brownish-beige color with a complex pattern of rings and dots in different shades of light and dark.
- Occurs in the Western Pacific, including Eastern Indonesia, New Guinea, and Northern Australia. Commonly observed on the Great Barrier Reef.
- Its conservation status is “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List.
- Ornate wobbegong. (Orectolobus ornatus). It is a small, elongated shark with splotchy skin and brown markings on its head, body, and tail. Around its mouth are appendages that resemble antennae.
- They live in Australia and possibly other countries in the Western Pacific Ocean.
- Its conservation status is “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
- Gulf wobbegong or banded wobbegong (Orectolobus halei).It is very similar to the ornate wobbegong. The species’ head margin has numerous branching dermal lobes. Above the eyes are two tubercles, and there is a white spot behind both spiracles. The Gulf Wobbegong has incredibly detailed and colorful dorsal and darker corrugated saddles with a distinct margin border.
- Gulf Wobbegongs are found in waters that are moderate and occasionally subtropical, ranging from Southport in southern Queensland to Norwegian Bay in western Australia and south to Flinders Island in the Bass Strait.
- Its conservation status is “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List.
- Western wobbegong. (Orectolobus hutchinsi). It is a yellowish-brown with well-defined darker brown saddles and white spots, scars, or patterns on the fins and body. A western wobbegong shark can grow to about 149 cm long.
- They can be found off the coast of southwest Australia and live in shallow water on the continental shelf.
- Its conservation status is “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
- Japanese wobbegong (Orectolobus japonicus).It has a distinct color pattern that consists of broad, dark dorsal saddles with spots and blotches, as well as dark corrugated edges. These edges are dark but not black, divided by lighter areas by dark, broad reticular lines. Two spineless dorsal fins of similar size emerge from behind the pelvic fin bases. The pectoral and pelvic fins are rounded and prominent.
- They can be found in the tropical western Pacific Ocean from Japan and Korea to Vietnam and the Philippines, between latitudes 43 and 6°N.
- Its conservation status is “Data deficient” (Data inadequate to determine a threat category).
- Dwarf spotted wobbegong(Orectolobus parvimaculatus). It is a small-bodied species that reaches a total length of 88.5 centimeters. It has a variable, rich, brownish, greyish, or yellowish dorsal color with a pattern overlain by dense coverage of pale irregular streaks and large, ring-like ocelli.
- They live in Australia and possibly other countries in the Western Pacific Ocean.
- Its conservation status is “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
- Indonesian wobbegong (Orectolobus leptolineatus). It has a complex and variable coloration. They have alternating dark brownish bars and saddles on the dorsal and lateral surfaces that are firmly vermiculite. The paired fins’ dorsal and upper surfaces have prominent vermicular patterns.
- It can be found in Indonesia’s western Pacific Ocean. There have also been unconfirmed reports off of Sarawak Malaysian (Borneo), Taiwan (Penghu Islands), the Philippines (the Visayas and Cebu City), and the Ryukyu Islands.
- Its conservation status is “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List.
- Floral banded wobbegong(Orectolobus floridus). It is a beautiful wobbegong because it has a heavily ornamented, mottled yellowish brown dorsal coloration. There are black spots on the side of the head. The dorsal fins are low, raked, and not upright.
- They can be found in southwestern Australia and eastern Indian Ocean. They are pelagic-neritic, with depths ranging from 138 to 279 feet.
- Its conservation status is “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
- Network wobbegong (Orectolobus reticulatus). It has a vibrant color pattern that includes dark saddles, spots, and fine reticulations. The anterior margins are crenulated. They have tall, upright dorsal fins. The origin of the first dorsal fin is over the mid pelvic fin base.
- They can be found in the Indian and western oceans around Australia. It has been discovered in shallow waters off the coasts of Kimberley and Darwin. At depths ranging from 0 to 66 feet, they are classified as tropical benthopelagic.
- Its conservation status is “Data deficient” (Data inadequate to determine a threat category).
- Northern wobbegong(Orectolobus wardi). The color pattern is simple and subdued, with a few dark spots, dusky mottling, and rounded saddles separated by broad areas without spots or reticular lines in front of the first dorsal fin.
- They can be found in Australia (9°S – 26°S, 114°E – 154°E) on shallow reefs less than 10 feet deep, but the exact depth is unknown because they have only been seen along reef environments. They have often been found in turbid water.
- Its conservation status is “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
- Cobbler wobbegong (Sutorectus tentaculatus). It has a distinct pattern. Their dorsal saddles are broad and dark, with jagged, corrugated edges separated by light areas with irregular dark spots. The Cobbler wobbegong is slimmer and flatter than most other wobbegongs. The dorsal fins are long and low. The height is half the length of the base.
- They can be found in the eastern Indian Ocean off the coasts of south and western Australia (26°S – 35°S, 113°E – 139°E).
- Its conservation status is “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.
Wobbegong Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Wobbegong across 32 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Wobbegong, which is a bottom-dwelling shark that camouflages with a symmetrical pattern of bold markings.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Wobbegong Facts
- Flow Free
- Scrabble Spelling
- Zoom In
- Lost Wobbegong
- Creature Feature
- Video Analysis
- Form an Opinion
- Shark Exhibit
- Article Analysis
- Wobbegong Info-guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What is special about the wobbegong?
The ornate wobbegong is a very unique shark. It is distinguished by its flat body, beautiful freckled complexion, and fleshy projections on its head. Scientists believe that the main purpose of the head projections is to provide camouflage for both ambush hunts and defense against predators.
What does a wobbegong eat?
Wobbegongs are sharks that feast on smaller creatures like fish or octopuses that live near the ocean floor.
Why is it called a wobbegong?
The word “wobbegong” comes from an Australian Aboriginal language. It means “shaggy beard”. The name was given to the shark of the western Pacific because of the growths around its mouth.
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Link will appear as Wobbegong Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, October 10, 2022
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