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Order: Orectolobiformes Family: Orectolobidae (Wobbegongs). Etymology: Greek, oryktos= to digger + Greek, lobos= lobe. Eucrossorhinus E. dasypogon (tasselled wobbegong) Sutorectus S. tentaculatus (Cobbler wobbegong). Orectolobus O. wardi (Northern wobbegong) O. maculatus
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Order: OrectolobiformesFamily: Orectolobidae (Wobbegongs) Etymology: Greek, oryktos= to digger + Greek, lobos= lobe
Eucrossorhinus E. dasypogon (tasselled wobbegong) Sutorectus S. tentaculatus (Cobbler wobbegong) Orectolobus O. wardi (Northern wobbegong) O. maculatus (Spotted wobbegong) O. ornatus (Ornate wobbegong) O. japonicus (Japanese wobbegong) O. hutchinsi (Western wobbegong-2006) Taxonomy 3 genera, 7 species
Small-large (60 cm-3.7 m) 2 spineless dorsals Broad, flat head w/ unique dermal flap (obscure outline) General Characteristics
Long pointed or branched barbells Highly developed color pattern- well camouflaged Spiracle larger than the eyes 3 rows of sharp teeth upper and 2 lower General Characteristics
Diagnostic Featuresusually distinguished by barbells (branched/unbranched), coloration, and dermal lobes • Eucrossorhinus dasypogon- Tasselled wobbegong • Highly branched dermal lobes • Dorsal w/narrow dark lines on light background • Scattered dots at junction lines
Orectolobus wardi- Northern wobbegong • Barbels not branched • 2-3 dermal lobes in front of eyes • Simple color pattern, rounded saddles on back
Orectolobus maculatus- Spotted wobbegong • Branched barbels • 6-10 dermal lobes • Color pattern w/ elaborate spots & saddles
Orectolobus ornarus- Ornate wobbegong • a few branches on barbels • ~5 dermal lobes • Back w/ light areas btwn. dark saddles • Saddles w/ spots, borders dark
Orectolobus japonicus- Japanese wobbegong • Basally branched barbels • ~5 dermal lobes • Back w/ light areas btwn. dark saddles but borders not black edged
Orectolobus hutchinsi- Western wobbegong • unbranched barbels • 4 dermal lobes • Dark brown saddles, no white spots
Habitat/Distribution • Inshore/offshore rocky bottoms- common on coral reefs or sandy bottom (cryptic coloration) • Intertidal zone to 110m • Endemic to warm-temperate/ tropical continental waters of W. Pacific • Most diverse in Australia & New Guinea to Japan
Biology/Food Habits • Sluggish, move very little • Walk along bottom using paired fins? • Can climb out of water to move btwn. tidepools? • Heavy jaws & sharp teeth make them powerful bottom predators • Feed on bottom fishes, crabs, lobster, octopi & others • Have bitten humans when stepped on
Commercial Value/Conservation • Colorful skin used for leather • Food value in Australia, China, Japan, & Malaysia • Regularly kept in aquaria, have bred in captivity • 3 near threatened species: • Tasselled wobbegong • Spotted wobbegong • Ornate wobbegong
Bibliography • Carrier, J., Musick, J., & Heithaus, M. (2004). Biology of Sharks and Their Relatives. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. p. 67 • Compagno, L.J. (1984). FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the World. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1- Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. 125(4/1): 147-160. • Last, P., Childrow, J., & Compagno, L.J. (2006) A new wobbegong shark, Orectolobus hutchinsi n. sp. (Orectolobifomres: Orectolobidae) from southwestern Austalia. Zootaxa, (1239): 35-48.