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Orectolobus maculatus

(Carpet Shark)

Overview

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Near Threatened

Threat status

Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Click on the language to view common names.

Common Names in Danish:

Australsk Sk, Australsk Skæghaj, Plettet wobbegong

Common Names in Dutch:

Gevlekte bakerhaai

Common Names in English:

Carpet Shark, Common Carpet Shark, Common Catshark, spotted wobbegong, Tassel Shark, Wobbegong

Common Names in Finnish:

Rengaspartahai

Common Names in French:

Requin tapis, Requin-Tapis Tachet, Requin-tapis tacheté

Common Names in German:

Australischer Ammenhai, Wobbegong

Common Names in Italian:

Squalo nutrice

Common Names in Japanese:

Kumohada-, Kumohada-ôse

Common Names in Mandarin Chinese:

斑紋鬚鯊, 斑纹须鲨, 斑须鲛, 斑鬚鮫, 虎沙, 虎鯊, 虎鲨, 豆腐鯊, 豆腐鲨

Common Names in Portuguese:

Tubar, Tubarão-tapete

Common Names in Spanish:

Tapicero manchado, Tibur, Tiburón alfombra

Common Names in Swedish:

Fl, Fläckig Wobbegong

Description

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Physical Description

Species Orectolobus maculatus

Distinctive Features: The body and head of the spotted wobbegong is flattened. The mouth is located in front of the eyes and has a protruding jaw that aids in the capture of prey . It has nasal barbels and 8 to 10 dermal lobes around the mouth and on the sides of the head. The first spineless dorsal fin starts over the pelvic base , and the anal fin originates behind the second dorsal fin origin . The caudal fin is much shorter than the rest of the body, and the pectoral and pelvic fins are broad. Spotted wobbegong sharks are also characterized by the presense of large spiracles, nasoral and circumnarial grooves , and the absence of caudal keels and ridges on the body. While other species of wobbegong are similar in appearance , the pattern of coloration is distinctive for the spotted wobbegong.

Dentition: The teeth of the spotted wobbegong are described as enlarged fangs; they are long, slender, and sharp. There are two lateral rows in the upper jaw and three lateral rows in the lower jaw.

Color:

The spotted wobbegong is generally pale yellow or greenish brown with large, dark saddles down the center of its back and many small, white O-shaped markings over its entire back. The pattern serves as camouflage .

Size/Age/Growth

The average size of the spotted wobbegong at birth is 8.3 inches (21 cm) total length. Most adult males mature at 23.6 inches (60 cm) and may reach a maximum length of 126 inches (320 cm) total length. However, the average size of an adult male is 59 to 71 inches (150-180 cm) total length

Habitat

Found on the continental shelf, from the intertidal down to at least 110 m [1]. Commonly on coral and rocky reefs, under piers , and on sand bottom [1]. 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[1]. Nocturnal (Ref. 247). Occurring on continental shelves, from the intertidal zone down to 360 feet (110 m), the spotted wobbegong is commonly found on or around reefs, under piers, and on sandy bottoms. There have been many sightings of this shark in water barely deep enough to cover its entire body. It is considered sluggish and inactive and is often found resting on the ocean floor.

Typically found in water with a depth of 0 to -864 meters (0 to -2,835 feet).[2]

Ecology: Compagno (2001) describes this species as ?an abundant, temperate to tropical , inshore to offshore bottom shark of the continental shelves of the western Pacific, commonly on coral and rocky reefs, in coastal bays , in estuaries, in seagrass beds , under piers , and on sandy bottoms.? Juveniles occur in estuaries and are occasionally found over seagrass beds. It can occur in water barely deep enough to cover it, and has been observed climbing ridges between tide pools with its back out of water (Compagno 2001). In a study in Port Stephens, NSW, a sympatric species of wobbegong (O. ornatus) was shown to prefer sponge gardens, artificial structures and barren boulders habitats with a high topographic complexity and crevice volume (Carraro and Gladsone 2006). However, O. ornatus did not seem to select habitat on the basis of prey availability and habitat selection may therefore be related to predator avoidance (Carraro and Gladsone 2006). Orectolobus maculatus occurs inshore on the continental shelf to at least 218 m depth (Kyne et al. 2005). It is often found in murkier water than the closely related O. Halei (Lieske and Myers 1994).

A survey on wobbegongs shows evidence of site-attachment with divers observing individual sharks in exactly the same positions over consecutive dives (The Ecology Lab 1991). Furthermore, a sympatric species of wobbegong (O. halei) has been recorded within the same area for over 2.5 years (Huveneers et al. 2006, Huveneers unpub. Data ), and another sympatric species of wobbegong (O. ornatus) has been re-sighted within a 75 hectares area for a period of over 211 days suggesting site fidelity (Carraro and Gladstone 2006).

Compagno (2001) describes this shark as a nocturnal species that rests on the bottom during the day in caves, under ledges on reefs, and in trenches and that undertakes nocturnal excursions away from resting areas. As a primarily nocturnal feeder, it preys on bottom invertebrates and fishes (Last and Stevens 1994). Compagno (2001) cites the prey of O. maculatus as bony fishes, sharks, rays, cephalopods and crustaceans. A NSW study found elasmobranchs, osteichthyes (reef, benthic and a few pelagic fishes, and moray eels ) and cephalopods as prey items (Huveneers et al. 2007a). No crustaceans were found in the stomachs of O. maculatus caught in the NSW. Sampled sharks were, however, mostly large juveniles and adults (>100 cm TL ), and it is possible that crustaceans are part of neonates or small juveniles diet .

Although O. maculatus was reported to mature at about 60 cm (Compagno, 2001), this size-at-maturity is likely to be related to the dwarf morph from WA, whereas O. maculatus matures at about 120 cm (Huveneers et al. 2007b). Similar to O. ornatus and O. halei, O. maculatus has a triennial reproductive cycle with follicles taking two years to enlarge before ovulation. During the first year, follicles remain small, then grow rapidly during the second year prior to ovulation during November. Gestation lasts about 10?11 months with parturition occurring during September?October (Huveneers et al. 2007b). O. maculatus is lecithotrophic viviparous with a litter size of about 21 with up to 37 young recorded (Grant 1978) and a size-at-birth of about 23 cm TL (Huveneers et al. 2007b). Maximum length is about 320cm, but with most individuals caught being smaller, up to 150?180 cm (Compagno 2001).

Age and growth of O. maculatus was attempted but could not be verified or validated (Chidlow, 2003, Huveneers 2007). Furthermore, different age estimations for wobbegongs were obtained if using whole vertebrae or thin cut sections (Huveneers 2007). Newborn captive O. Maculatus grew about 22 cm year-1, whereas small juveniles of about 45 cm TL grew about 18 cm year-1 (Huveneers 2007).[3].

List of Habitats:

Biology

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Diet

Feeds on bottom invertebrates and bony fishes[1]. Favorite foods of the spotted wobbegong include invertebrates such as crabs, lobsters, and octopi as well as bony fish such as sea bass and luderick. This shark is nocturnal , hunting at night and resting during the day. O. maculatus can extend its reach during prey capture by as much as 30% of the nasal distance from its anteriormost point to the anterior edge of the pectoral fin. This is equivalent to the combined length of the head and branchial arches. The spotted wobbegong often sits at the bottom and waits for prey to wander near its mouth . Prey have even been known to nibble on this shark's tentacles before being eaten. Other times this shark has been observed to slowly sneak up on its prey from a long distance.

Reproduction

The spotted wobbegong is ovoviviparous[4], giving birth to a large number of full term embryos. One female was reported to give birth to a record of 37 young. During breeding season , the male is attracted to the female by chemical pheromones that she releases into the water. In the mating process , the male often bites the female in the region of the gills and inserts one clasper into the cloaca to deliver sperm .

Behavior

Predators:

Any large fish or marine mammals are potential predators of the spotted wobbegong. Known to bite people that step on it or put their feet near its mouth , and can and will bite when molested and provoked [1].

Parasites:

The onchobothriid tetraphyllidean cestode is one known parasite of the spotted wobbegong. Thirty-three species of this cestode are parasitic to the spiral intestine of this shark ; they are of the genus Acanthobothrium. The nematode Echinocephalus overstreeti is also a known parasite of this shark.

Taxonomy

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Synonyms

Orectolobus maculatus • Squalus appendiculatus • Squalus appendiculatus Shaw • Squalus barbatus • Squalus barbatus Gmelin • Squalus labiatus Bleeker • Squalus lobatus • Squalus lobatus Bloch and Schneider • Squalus maculatus • Squalus maculatus Bonnaterre • Squalus maculatus Bonnaterre, 1788

Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Last scrutiny: Data last modified by FishBase 27-Oct-2000

Often confused with O. halei, but differs from O. halei by having more (6-10 dermal lobes at the posterior preorbital group) and saddles containing whitish rings and blotches (unlike O. halei).

Western Australia (WA) populations of O. maculatus appear to include at least two species with a dwarf morph similar to O. maculatus but maturing at a smaller total length (J. Chidlow pers. comm. ). Clearly, further taxonomic research on the WA populations is warranted.

Assessment is complicated by taxonomic uncertainties of apparent specimens from Japan and South China Seas , but due to the probable invalid nature of these records , this species should be considered an Australian endemic at present (L.J.V. Compagno, March 2003, pers. comm. ). (Ref. 292397).

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Orectolobus

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 10 species and subspecies in this genus:

O. dasypogon (Tasselled Wobbegong) · O. floridus (Floral Banded Wobbegong) · O. halei (Banded Wobbegong) · O. hutchinsi (Western Wobbegong) · O. japonicus (Japanese Carpet Shark) · O. maculatus (Carpet Shark) · O. ornatus (Dwarf Ornate Wobbegong) · O. parvimaculatus (Dwarf Spotted Wobbegong) · O. reticulatus (Network Wobbegong) · O. wardi (North Australian Wobbegong)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Data Sources

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal March 01, 2008:

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Compagno, L.J.V. (1984). FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 1. Hexanchiformes to Lamniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. (125, Vol. 4, Part 1), 249 p. [back]
  2. Mean = -422.000 meters (-1,384.514 feet), Standard Deviation = 625.080 based on 2 observations. Ocean depth information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
  3. Huveneers, C. Pollard, D., Gordon, I., Flaherty, A. & Pogonoski, J. 2009. Orectolobus maculatus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 03 February 2012. [back]
  4. Dulvy, N.K. and J.D. Reynolds (1997). Evolutionary transitions among egg-laying, live-bearing and maternal inputs in sharks and rays. Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 264:1309-1315. [back]
Last Revised: 7/15/2012