Western wobbegong (Orectolobus hutchinsi)

Scientific name: Orectolobus hutchinsi Last, Chidlow & Compagno, 2006

The Western wobbegong (Orectolobus hutchinsi) is a marine fish of the family Orectolobidae. Native range: Eastern Indian Ocean, Western Australia. Sympatric with O. maculatus and O. ornatus.

Biology

Diagnosis: A moderate-sized species with the following characters: yellowish-brown when fresh with well-defined, darker brown saddles; absence fo white spots, blotches or reticulations on the fins and body; nasal barbel bilobed; postspiracular lobes are simple, reduced or rudimentary; distance across preorbital lobe group 1.2-1.3 times interspace between preorbital group and postspiracular lobe, 13-15 times base length of anterior postspiracular lobe; base of anterior postspiracular lobe 11-12 in its distance from postorbital group, 4.9-7 in its distance from posterior postspiracular lobe; mouth width 4.7-10.2 times preoral distance; warty tubercles absent on back of adult; juveniles with rows of elevated denticles or poorly defined warty tubercles on back; dorsal fins raked posteriorly; first dorsal fin over rear half of pelvic -fin bases; interdorsal space 0.38-0.56 times anal-fin base length; anal-fin inner margin 0.8-1.1 times anal-fin posterior margin; teeth in upper jaw 25-

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Orectolobus hutchinsi
Family
Orectolobidae (Carpet or nurse sharks)
Order
Orectolobiformes (Carpet sharks)
Class
Elasmobranchii (Sharks and Rays)
Maximum length
149
Depth range
0–106 m (0–348 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 0 - 106 m, usually 0 - 79 m
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean: Western Australia. Sympatric with O. maculatus and O. ornatus.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Data deficient (DD)
Threat to humans
Harmless

Sources

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

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