Order: OrectolobiformesFamily: Orectolobidae

(Wobbegongs)

Etymology: Greek, oryktos= to digger + Greek, lobos= lobe

Taxonomy• 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)

3 genera, 7 species

General Characteristics

• 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

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.