Carpet Shark

Origin

The carpet shark (Orectolobus maculatus) or Wobbegong is part of the family Orectolobidae, order Orectolobiformes.
It can be found in the China Sea, the sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, part of the Pacific Ocean, Indonesia and New Guinea. It inhabits shallow reef waters.
Wobbegong is the common name for 12 species of carpet shark. Most are found in the Pacific and Indian oceans.
It can be found in foreign literature and specialty by scientific name or by the following names: Carpet Shark, Common Carpet Shark, Common Catshark, Tassel Shark, Wobbegong.

Feeding Carpet Shark

The carpet shark hunts most at night. The method most often used for capturing prey is ambush. It is not the classic ambush in which the predator chases its prey and rather a panda.
It camouflages itself almost perfectly and waits until the fish come close to it then catches them by surprise. He's an opportunist. Lurks a variety of fish. On the dorsal side you can see the dorsal fins. The pelvic fins are wide and very large. Also on the side are the five gills.
Wobbegong's food consists of octopuses, squids, crabs, various species of Fish and marine invertebrates.

Appearance Carpet Shark

The carpet shark is 1-2 meters long and weighs kg. Most species are less than 2 meters long, but there are also specimens that can exceed 3 meters. The flat body perfectly camouflages itself on the bottom of the water.
The rounded snout is provided with fleshy mustache-like protrusions. The mouth has a large opening to grab fish of larger sizes. Skin color varies from Gray, greenish or brownish depending on the species. The tail is long.

Eucrossorhinus dasypogon (tasselled wobbegong)

Orectolobus floridus (floral banded wobbegong)
Orectolobus halei (Gulf wobbegong or banded wobbegong)
Orectolobus hutchinsi (western wobbegong)
Orectolobus japonicus (Japanese wobbegong)
Orectolobus leptolineatus (Indonesian wobbegong)
Orectolobus maculatus (spotted wobbegong)
Orectolobus ornatus (ornate wobbegong)
Orectolobus parvimaculatus (dwarf spotted wobbegong)
Orectolobus reticulatus (network wobbegong)
Orectolobus wardi (northern wobbegong)
Sutorectus tentaculatus (wobbegong cobbler)

Carpet Shark Behavior

The carpet shark or Wobbegong as it is also known poses no danger to humans. It sits motionless on the bottom of the water even when it is being filmed because it trusts its camouflage and thinks it is not being noticed.
If it is stepped on or touched, it returns and retaliates with a strong, painful and serious bite.
Apart from humans the carpet shark has few predators in its natural environment.

Carpet Shark Breeding

The carpet shark is attracted to the female when she releases pheromones into the water. As with other shark species, the male grabs the female with his teeth during the mating act.
It reproduces viviparously. After mating the female gives birth to 20 to 35 Cubs. After the gestation period that can last up to two years.
The chicks are 20cm long. Sexual maturity is reached at 0.5 – 1.2 meters in length.
Life expectancy is unknown, but given the Wobbegong's low number of predators it is assumed that it has a long life.