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Wobbegongs
Wobbegong is the common name given to the 12 species of carpet sharks in the family Orectolobidae. They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean, chiefly around Australia and Indonesia, although one species (the Japanese wobbegong, ''Orectolobus japonicus'') occurs as far north as Japan. The word ''wobbegong'' is believed to come from an Australian Aboriginal language, meaning "shaggy beard", referring to the growths around the mouth of the shark of the western Pacific. Description Wobbegongs are bottom-dwelling sharks, spending much of their time resting on the sea floor. Most species have a maximum length of , but the largest, the spotted wobbegong, ''Orectolobus maculatus'', and banded wobbegong, ''O. halei'', reach about in length. Wobbegongs are well camouflaged with a Symmetry, symmetrical pattern of bold markings which resembles a carpet. Because of this striking pattern, wobbegongs and their close rela ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spotted Wobbegong
The spotted wobbegong (''Orectolobus maculatus'') is a carpet shark in the family (biology), family Orectolobidae, endemic to Australia. It is a large, robust species, typically reaching in length. Coloured green, yellow, or brown, it has distinctive O-shaped spots throughout its body. It is nocturnal, resting at day and feeding on fish and invertebrates at night. An ovoviviparous species, the spotted wobbegong gives birth in the spring, during which time males can act aggressively towards other males and females. It has been known to bite humans, sometimes unprovoked, which can produce severe wounds. The species is fished commercially in Australia, but it is not severely threatened. It is listed as a least-concern species on the IUCN Red List. Taxonomy The species was described by Pierre Joseph Bonnaterre in 1778. He classified it in the genus ''Squalus'', with the full scientific name of ''Squalus maculatus''. Bonnaterre redescribed the species in 1788 in ''Orectolobus'', i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sutorectus
The cobbler wobbegong (''Sutorectus tentaculatus'') is a carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae, the only member of the genus ''Sutorectus''. It is found in the subtropical eastern Indian Ocean around Western Australia between latitudes 26° S and 35° S. It is frequently found in rocky and coral reef areas. Cobbler wobbegongs reach a length of . It has unbranched dermal lobes on the head, rows of warty tubercles along the back and black spots on the body and fins. Morphology and ancestral relations Cobbler wobbegongs are a small species of carpet shark (given the name because of the carpet-like patterns on the skin), Orectolobiformes, that are capable of growing to a size of in total length. The size at birth of these sharks is approximately total length, with males maturing at a length of about total. Based upon morphology, ''Sutorectus'' is placed ancestral to '' Eucrossorhinus'', also known as the tasseled wobbegong. ''Sutorectus'' and/or ''Eucrossorhinus'' are cl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Eucrossorhinus Dasypogon
The tasselled wobbegong (''Eucrossorhinus dasypogon'') is a species of carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae and the only extant member of the genus ''Eucrossorhinus''. It inhabits shallow coral reefs off northern Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands. Reaching in length, this species has a broad and flattened body and head. Its most distinctive trait is a fringe of branching dermal flaps around its head, which extends onto its chin. The fringe, along with its complex color pattern of small blotches and reticulations, enable it to camouflage itself against the reef environment. During the day, the solitary tasselled wobbegong can generally be found lying inside caves or under ledges with its tail curled. Individual sharks tend to remain within a local area and have favored resting spots. While resting, it opportunistically ambushes nearby fish and invertebrates, and also lures in prey by waving its tail to mimic the appearance of a small fish. At night, it emerges and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carpet Shark
Carpet sharks are sharks classified in the order (biology), order Orectolobiformes . Sometimes the common name "carpet shark" (given because many species resemble ornately patterned carpets) is used interchangeably with "wobbegong", which is the common name of sharks in the family Orectolobidae. Carpet sharks have five gill slits, two spineless dorsal fins, and a small mouth that does not extend past the eyes. Many species have barbel (anatomy), barbels. Characteristics The carpet sharks are a diverse group of sharks with differing sizes, appearances, diets, and habits. They first appeared in the fossil record in the Early Jurassic; the oldest known orectolobiform genera are ''Folipistrix'' (known from Toarcian to Aalenian of Belgium and Germany), ''Palaeobrachaelurus'' (Aalenian to Barremian) and ''Annea (fish), Annea'' (Toarcian to Bajocian of Europe). All species have two dorsal fins and a relatively short, transverse mouth that does not extend behind the eyes. Besides the nost ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sharks In Captivity
Several species of sharks are kept in captivity in public aquaria. In home aquaria, size constraints mean that only the smallest sharks are typically viable as pets. Public aquaria Until recently only a few benthic species of shark, such as horn sharks, leopard sharks, catsharks, and zebra sharks, had survived in aquarium conditions for up to a year or more. This gave rise to the belief that sharks, as well as being difficult to capture and transport, were difficult to care for. A better knowledge of sharks has led to more species (including the large pelagic sharks) being able to be kept for far longer. At the same time, transportation techniques have improved and long distance movement of sharks is becoming easier. Several attempts to keep a great white shark in captivity have been made, but most specimens died or had to be released after a short time. One example, placed in the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan, only survived for three days. The longest a great white was hel ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ward's Wobbegong
The northern wobbegong (''Orectolobus wardi'') is a carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae, found in the western Pacific Ocean around Australia, between latitudes 9° S to 26° S. It reaches a length of 63 cm. Captivity Northern wobbegongs are excellent aquarium sharks due to their small (30 inch) adult size. They can be successfully reared in 135 gallon aquaria, but sharks in general tend to do better in aquaria 180 gallons or more in volume. See also * List of sharks Shark is the naming term of all members of Selachimorpha suborder in the subclass Elasmobranchii, in the class Chondrichthyes. The Elasmobranchii also include rays and skates; the Chondrichthyes also include Chimaeras. The first shark-like chond ... References * {{Taxonbar, from=Q31784 northern wobbegong Taxa named by Gilbert Percy Whitley northern wobbegong ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Banded Wobbegong
The Gulf wobbegong or banded wobbegong (''Orectolobus halei'') is a species of carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae, found in southern Australia between Southport, Queensland and Norwegian Bay, Western Australia.Clark, M. (2006). Wobbegong sharks redescribed.'' Practical Fishkeeping ''Orectolobus halei'' is very similar to the ornate wobbegong, ''O. ornatus'', of which it was treated as a synonym until 2006.Huveneers, C. (2006). ''Redescription of two species of wobbegongs (Chondrichthyes: Orectolobidae) with elevation of Orectolobus halei Whitley 1940 to species level.'' Zootaxa 1284: 29-51. Despite this, genetic evidence suggests that ''O. halei'' is more closely related to the largely sympatric spotted wobbegong, ''O. maculatus'', than either are to the generally more northern ''O. ornatus''.Corrigan, S., C. Huveneers, T. S. Schwartz, R. G. Harcourt, and L. B. Beheregaray (2008). ''Genetic and reproductive evidence for two species of ornate wobbegong shark Orectolobus spp. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ambush Predator
Ambush predators or sit-and-wait predators are carnivorous animals that capture their prey via stealth, luring or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an element of surprise. Unlike pursuit predators, who chase to capture prey using sheer speed or endurance, ambush predators avoid fatigue by staying in concealment, waiting patiently for the prey to get near, before launching a sudden overwhelming attack that quickly incapacitates and captures the prey. The ambush is often opportunistic, and may be set by hiding in a burrow, by camouflage, by aggressive mimicry, or by the use of a trap (e.g. a web). The predator then uses a combination of senses to detect and assess the prey, and to time the strike. Nocturnal ambush predators such as cats and snakes have vertical slit pupils helping them to judge the distance to prey in dim light. Different ambush predators use a variety of means to capture their prey, from the long sticky tongues of chameleons to the expand ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
