Site navigation

ANIMAL SPECIES:Spotted Wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus (Bonnaterre, 1788)

Add comment Add tags

The Spotted Wobbegong has a pattern of dark saddles and white rings.  The species is widely distributed in subtropical and temperate Australian waters.

Alternative Name/s

Carpet Shark, Common Carpet Shark, Common Catshark, Tassel Shark, Wobbegong

Identification

The Spotted Wobbegong can be recognised by the skin flaps around the snout margin and the distinctive colour pattern of dark saddles and white rings on a yellow to greenish-brown background.

The genus name Orectolobus comes from the Greek words orectos, meaning stretched out, and lobos meaning a rounded projection or protuberance. The genus name most likely refers to the barbels on the head. The species name maculatus comes from the Latin word macula which means spot, and refers to the shark's spotted colouration. 'Wobbegong' is an Australian aboriginal word.

Size range

It is about 20 cm in length when born and reaches a maximum size of about 3 m.

Distribution

This species occurs along the southern coastline of Australia from southern Queensland to south-western Western Australia. It is possibly endemic to Australia. Records from Japan and the South China Sea are probably errors.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Spotted Wobbegong specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Spotted Wobbegongs live in shallow coastal waters down to about 100 m depth. They often lie on sand or rocky reef bottoms and are frequently seen by divers.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

Feeding occurs mainly at night and includes prey items such as fishes, crayfish, crabs and octopuses.

Classification

Species:
maculatus
Genus:
Orectolobus
Family:
Orectolobidae
Order:
Orectolobiformes
Class:
Chondrichthyes
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Brown, R.W. 1956. Composition of Scientific Words. R. W. Brown. Pp. 882.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
  3. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
  4. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 1994. Sharks and Rays of Australia. CSIRO. Pp. 513, Pl. 1-84.
  5. Stevens, J.D. in Gomon, M.F., J.C.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  6. Whitley, G.P. 1940. The fishes of Australia. Part I. The sharks, rays, devil-fish, and other primitive fishes of Australia and New Zealand. Royal Zoological Society N.S.W., Australian Zoological Handbook 1-280.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 18 March 2011

5 comments

Mark McGrouther STAFF

Mark McGrouther
12.02 PM, 08 February 2010

Hi Will, You can send photos to me, but please don't send too many ... I have plenty of other things to do :).   You can email me at mark.mcgrouther@austmus.gov.au. You are right in your observation that there are many species for which we don't have photos on the website.  I am still transferring content from the old site (which had a more comprehensive coverage of the fauna) to the new. Cheers, Mark

William Tze Chuin Teo

Will Teo
3.02 PM, 05 February 2010

Hi Amanda, I was wondering where do I send my photos for identification? etc sharks, rays.. and would I be able to contribute my photos and get them recognised since I noticed that some species do not have corresponding photos.

Amanda Hay STAFF

Amanda Hay
9.01 AM, 19 January 2010

Hi Damian,

They certainly are one of my favourite fish. There are three species of wobbies (two of them have been reported to reach 3 m) that can be found in coastal waters around Sydney and the best way to ID them is by the colour patterns. Gulf Wobbegong, Orectolobus halei, are strongly ornamented with the margins of the saddles on the back having black borders. The Spotted Wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus, is pale yellowish or greenish brown with the darker saddles having numerous white edged rings and blotches. Ornate Wobbegong, Orectolobus ornatus, is generally the smallest and grows to just over a metre, as the name suggests its highly ornamented, strongly speckled or freckled as I like to think of it.

If you do love sharks the reference we always use is Last & Stevens, 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia 2nd Edition, its a fabulous book.

Happy snorkeling and please feel free to send us any pictures you may have for confirmation.

Damian Kuthalane

Wolflord101
5.01 PM, 18 January 2010

Hi, I was snorkeling in Gordon's Bay, Sydney recently, and saw a Wobbegong shark for the first time. It was HUGE, definitely longer than 2 m. one of my friends told me he had seen a big Wobbegong there before as well, so I'm pretty sure I might be able to find it again if I look for it. I just read the articles on this site about the Banded and spotted Wobbegongs, and also one about Ornate Wobbegongs and they all can apparently reach a size of about 3 m. I want to know which one I saw, so could some one please give me a few pointers to look for the next time I go looking for it. they all look a bit similar in the photos I've seen. any help and information will be much appreciated. I will be taking a camera next time so hopefully I can provide you with photos and videos if you want. I will not give up till I capture it on camera... it was one of the most beautiful fish I'd ever seen, and it made me feel very small hehe.

Report misuse

Would you like to add a comment?

Sign up to add comments and find out more about the other benefits you can enjoy.

Forgotten your password?

Would you like to add a tag?

Sign up to add tags and find out more about the other benefits you can enjoy.

Forgotten your password?

Spotted Wobbegong below Old Man's Hat

Spotted Wobbegong below Old Man's Hat View full size
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Spotted Wobbegong at Brush Island

Spotted Wobbegong at Brush Island View full size
Steve Dreezer © Steve Dreezer

Spotted Wobbegong at Cook Island

Spotted Wobbegong at Cook Island View full size
Blair Carter © Blair Carter

Spotted Wobbegong and Freckled Porcupinefish

Spotted Wobbegong and Freckled Porcupinefish View full size
Blair Carter © Blair Carter

what's on

Aboriginal Performer
Aboriginal Performance Experience

11 Jan 12 – 27 Jun 12

What's on calendar

Support us

Your support will have a real impact.

Donate now

Online Shop
Great gifts.

Australian Museum Members
Join today.

Australian Museum Business Services
Professional consulting.

Museum as a Venue
Unique spaces.

Media Resources
Contact Publicity.