Orectolobus maculatus

Orectolobidae
Spotted Wobbegong, Common Carpet Shark
  • Orectolobus maculatus, Montague Is, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Orectolobus maculatus, Montague Is, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Orectolobus maculatus, Solitary Islands, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
    Orectolobus maculatus, Solitary Islands, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
  • Orectolobus maculatus, Montague Is, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
    Orectolobus maculatus, Montague Is, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
  • Orectolobus maculatus, Port Macquarie, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-smith
    Orectolobus maculatus, Port Macquarie, NSW, Photo: Rick Stuart-smith
Distribution
Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific
Description
Resembles the ornate wobbegong in size and shape but has circular blotches surrounded by rings of white spots on the upper body surface. The western wobbegong can be recognised by its dark background colour and fewer and smaller skin flaps on the upper lip.
Information
  • Max Size: 320 cm
  • Sea Temperature Range: 15.3-26.2°C
  • Depth: 1-218m
  • Habitat: Coral Reef, Rocky Reef, Soft sediment
  • Habitat Generalisation Index: 8.3
    Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here
Rarity
  • Threats: By-catch, Exploitation
  • IUCN Threat Status: Near Threatened
  • Occurrence: Frequent (15% of sites)
    Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
  • Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
    Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney
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