Spotted wobbegong
📖 Overview
Found on the continental shelf, from the intertidal down to at least 110 m . Commonly on coral and rocky reefs, under piers, and on sand bottom . 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 . Nocturnal . Feeds on bottom invertebrates , including crabs, lobsters and octopuses , and bony fishes , like sea bass, scorpionfishes and luderick . Ovoviviparous , with up to 37 pups in a litter . Known to bite people that step on it or put their feet near its mouth, and can and will bite when molested and provoked . Flesh highly regarded and sometimes utilized for human consumption . Skin sometimes utilized for leather . Regarded as pest by lobster fishers .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Back dark, with light O-shaped markings obscuring darker saddles . Caudal fin with its upper lobe hardly elevated above the body axis, with a strong terminal lobe and subterminal notch but no ventral lobe .: elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Spotted wobbegong is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Ovoviviparous, embryos feed solely on yolk . One female had 37. Size at birth about 21 cm. Some anecdotal accounts regarding courtship are given. It is said that males in captivity fight vigorously among themselves while courting females. In the process, females are bitten by males in the gill region and one clasper is inserted. In the wild, the males are attracted to the females by some chemical pheromones possibly released by the latter during the breeding season.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 248 m , usually 0 - 110 m . Temperate; 20°S - 40°S, 113°E - 154°E South China Sea need to be confirmed.
🌿 Ecology
bottom invertebrates (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Squalus appendiculatus | Shaw | 1806 | Synonym |
| Squalus barbatus | Gmelin | 1789 | Synonym |
| Squalus labiatus | Bleeker | 1855 | Heterotypic |
| Squalus lobatus | Bloch & Schneider | 1801 | Synonym |
| Squalus maculatus | Bonnaterre | 1788 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 2 records indexed .
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