What Species of Wobbegong is this ...

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
K

krj-1168

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Aug 25, 2006
1,645
17
68
Eastern NC
I'm wonder exactly which species of Wobbegong is this ...

DSCN1333.jpg


DSCN1330.jpg


DSCN1338.jpg




The Wobbegong is presently about 10" long.

While it's previously been Identified as an Ornate Wobbegong (Orectolobus ornatus). I still wonder since it doesn't appear fit the normal ID ques for ornates.

So far the 3 options, for which species - that I can figure are - the Ornate(Orectolobus ornatus), The Gulf(Orectolobus halei) or the Cobbler(Sutorectus tentaculatus).
 
That's my thoughts as well - I was just attempting to play it safe by stating it's doen't fit the normal Identifying points for ornatus.

The patterns on the skin, & the fin morphology are different than the ornatus.
 
I spoke to someone on a different forum that owns a Spotted Wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus) and he thinks that it is a Spotted Wobbie from the pictures I sent him.

The Soptted Wobbie adults that I have seen pics of have distinctive light rings with light spots within. This little guy does not. He does however have almost unnoticeable black spurs which run from behind his eyes down his lateral lines.

It could possibly be a Cobbler or other Southern Australian species?

Here are a couple of videos of the same shark:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6HFi5Rs16F8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=apfO_s6QIC0
 
Well - you know my thoughts on what it is.

And no I don't believe it's A Spotted(Orectolobus maculatus), and fin morphology and skin patterns are all wrong. Neither is a Japanese(Orectolobus japonicus), or A Ward's(Orectolobus wardi).

Here's a clue - as to what I think it is -
wobbegong003a.jpg
 
Out of the pic that you posted above I think that he looks like bottom of the two sharks.

From other pics that I have seen the Wobbie's face that needs to be identified looks like a Cobbler to me.
 
have you checked Seapics.com yet?

They have good pics of Spotted Wobbies (O. maculatus). The young and adult look basically the same - except the young appear to be more brightly colored. But fin morphology is the basically same as in the adult - which seems to be the case with most carpet sharks(Bamboos, Wobbies & Nurses).
 
I have seen the pics on seapics and I think that by far the closest resemblance is to the Cobbler.

The description on elasmodiver is identical in reference to the dermal denticles and the four skin flaps (1 then 2 then 1) on each side of the mouth.


 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom