Gulf wobbegong explained

The Gulf wobbegong or banded wobbegong (Orectolobus halei) is a species of carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae, found in southern Australia between Southport, Queensland and Norwegian Bay, Western Australia.^[1]

Orectolobus halei is very similar to the ornate wobbegong, O. ornatus, of which it was treated as a synonym until 2006.^[2] Despite this, genetic evidence suggests that O. halei is more closely related to the largely sympatric spotted wobbegong, O. maculatus, than either are to the generally more northern O. ornatus.^[3]

Compared to O. ornatus, O. halei has more dermal lobes at the posterior preorbital group, a shorter pelvic fin to anal fin interspace, larger pectoral fins, a larger head and larger claspers when mature.^[2] It also reaches a significantly larger size, growing to a maximum length of 2.9m (09.5feet), while O. ornatus only reaches 1.17m (03.84feet).^[4]

Reproduction is ovoviviparous.

Etymology

The shark is named in honor of Herbert M. Hale (1895-1963) then the Director of the South Australian Museum.^[5]

Conservation Status

As of October 31, 2021, O. halei has been categorized as Fully Recovered by the IUCN.^[6]

See also

• List of sharks

References

• Gulf Wobbegong, Orectolobus halei Whitley 1940 @ fishesofaustralia.net.au

Notes and References

1. Clark, M. (2006). Wobbegong sharks redescribed. Practical Fishkeeping
2. Huveneers, C. (2006). Redescription of two species of wobbegongs (Chondrichthyes: Orectolobidae) with elevation of Orectolobus halei Whitley 1940 to species level. Zootaxa 1284: 29-51.
3. Corrigan, S., C. Huveneers, T. S. Schwartz, R. G. Harcourt, and L. B. Beheregaray (2008). Genetic and reproductive evidence for two species of ornate wobbegong shark Orectolobus spp. on the Australian east coast. Journal of Fish Biology 73: 1662–1675.
4. Marsh, N. (2007/08). Wobbegong Update... Sportdiving 125: 66-68.
5. Web site: Order ORECTOLOBIFORMES (Carpet Sharks) . 17 January 2022 . Christopher Scharpf . Kenneth J. Lazara . amp . The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database . Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara . 22 September 2018 . 12 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160512161510/http://www.etyfish.org/orectolobiformes/ . dead .
6. Huveneers, C. . 2021 . Orectolobus halei (Green Status assessment) . 2021 . e.T161709A16170920213 . 15 January 2022.