Common name : Carpet shark, Spotted wobbegong
Scientific name : Orectolobus maculatus
Family : Orectolobidae
Native to : Indo-Pacific Ocean
Interesting fact : Wobbegong in Australian aboriginal language means ‘shaggy beard’
referring to the fleshy growth around the fish’s mouth.
Conservation status : Near Threatened
The spotted wobbegong trout blends in with the sea floor with its carpet-like pattern on the skin. They live in coral, rocky reefs and sandy bottoms, growing up to 3.2 metres long. They feed on octopuses, crabs, lobsters, sea bass and luderick. They are ovoviparous; eggs are retained inside females in a brood chamber where they develop. Lifespan is 20-25 years.
