Spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus)

Scientific name: Orectolobus maculatus Bonnaterre, 1788

Spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus)

The Spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus) is a marine fish of the family Orectolobidae. Native range: Eastern Indian Ocean, southern Australia, from Western Australia to southern Queensland. Records from Japan and the South China Sea need to be confirmed.

Biology

Found on the continental shelf, from the intertidal down to at least 110 m. Commonly on coral and rocky reefs, under piers, and on sand bottom. May occur in water barely deep enough to cover the fish, and has been observed climbing ridges between tide pools with its back out of water. Nocturnal. Feeds on bottom invertebrates, including crabs, lobsters and octopuses, and bony fishes, like sea bass, scorpionfishes and luderick. Ovoviviparous, with up to 37 pups in a litter. Known to bite people that step on it or put their feet near its mouth, and can and will bite when molested and provoked. Flesh highly regarded and sometimes utilized for human consumption. Skin sometimes utilized for leather. Regarde

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Orectolobus maculatus
Family
Orectolobidae (Carpet or nurse sharks)
Order
Orectolobiformes (Carpet sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
320
Common length
180
Depth range
0–110 m (0–361 ft)
Environment
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 110 m, usually 0 - ? m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean: southern Australia, from Western Australia to southern Queensland. Records from Japan and the South China Sea need to be confirmed.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Near Threatened (NT)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=37)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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