What is special about the wobbegong?
Known for its flat body, beautiful freckled coloration and fleshy projections on its head, the ornate wobbegong is one of the world’s most unique sharks. The head projections are believed to function primarily as camouflage, which helps them ambush prey as well as protect them from predators.
Can a wobbegong bite you?
Wobbegongs have also bitten surfers. Wobbegongs are very flexible and can easily bite a hand holding onto their tail. They have many small but sharp teeth and their bite can be severe, even through a wetsuit; having once bitten, they have been known to hang on and can be very difficult to remove.
Are Wobbegongs friendly?
Spotted wobbegong sharks, Orectolobus maculatus, are harmless but will bite if disturbed. The bite can cause severe lacerations, and the spotted wobbegong is known to clamp down on its victim without letting go.
Can wobbegong sharks hurt you?
Although the tasseled wobbegong shark may look sluggish and potentially harmless once you encounter them at the bottom of the sea, they are actually known as supreme ambush predators with a bite that can cause considerable damage.
Can you eat wobbegong?
While you can find wobbegong on the menu in some local Australian fish n’ chip shops, they aren’t as widely eaten as some other sharks like porbeagles and mako sharks. Wobbegongs used to be fished with very little regulation in Australia.
How big can a wobbegong grow?
Spotted wobbegong can reach a maximum length of about 10.5 feet (3.2 m).
Are wobbegong sharks aggressive?
Australian divers commonly see Wobbegongs lying on the seabed in caves and under ledges. They are usually not aggressive. Wobbegongs however do have sharp teeth and should not be touched or provoked.
How heavy is a wobbegong?
Size – Reaches a length of 3 metres and a weight of over 70kg. Characteristics – The head & body are various shades of brown forming mottled patterns, and they have numerous skin flaps around the mouth. Wobbegong sharks can become aggressive if disturbed, and are able to reach back and bite a hand holding their tail.
Are wobbegong Sharks aggressive?
What eats a wobbegong shark?
2007b). Any large fish or marine mammals are potential predators of the spotted wobbegong. The onchobothriid tetraphyllidean cestode is one known parasite of the spotted wobbegong.
Are wobbegong sharks protected?
Their name possibly derived from an Australian Aboriginal word, Wobbegongs represent just 12 species of carpet sharks in the family Orectolobidae in the order Orectolobiformes which includes the whale shark and zebra shark. Wobbegongs are the only truely protected species in Australia. The bag limit is zero.
How big does a wobbegong shark get?
What kind of shark is a wobbegong shark?
Description: Wobbegong are highly patterned, flat sharks that can easily hide among the sea floor. They have an powerful jaw and will bite if provoked. These sharks use their bottoms fins to climb around, even sometimes out of the water.
Where do tasselled wobbegong sharks live in the world?
Tasselled wobbegong sharks live in tropical waters in the southwest Pacific Ocean off Indonesia, Australia, and New Guinea.
Can a wobbegong shark bite a scuba diver?
Wobbegong sharks have not provoked species but they attack the swimmer, divers and SCUBA divers that try to get close to the sharks. The wobbegong also can bite humans and its’ painful. These are so flexible that if you hold their tail, they can bite you on your hand. They have the number of small but sharp teeth that easily pierce the human skin.
What do tasselled wobbegong sharks eat at night?
This species feeds at night upon benthic (bottom) fish and invertebrates. During the day, tasselled wobbegong sharks rest in sheltered areas, such as in caves and under ledges. Their mouths are so large that they have even been seen swallowing other sharks whole. This shark can feed on other fish that share its caves.