Have you ever pondered which shark species stands out the most in appearance? Look no further than the tasseled wobbegong shark. Also known as carpet sharks, these creatures boast a unique flattened look, thanks to the distinctive branched lobes extending from their heads. Despite being discovered in 1867, they continue to hold an air of mystery as our understanding of them remains limited.
The creature initially mistaken for a tasselled wobbegong is actually a type of anglerfish in the Lophiidae family. It’s still best to avoid stepping on it!
This particular species, known as the tasselled wobbegong (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon), belongs to the Orectolobidae family of carpet sharks. It is commonly found in the shallow coral reefs around northern Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. Measuring up to 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) in length, it possesses a broad, flattened body and head. However, its most notable feature is the fringe of branching dermal flaps around its head and chin, which aid in its camouflage within the coral reef habitat it calls home.
During daylight hours, these solitary creatures typically remain hidden inside caves or beneath ledges, with their tails curled up. However, come nightfall, they become more active, foraging for food, including potential prey like humans. There have been reports of unprovoked attacks resulting in injuries and fatalities, often when individuals accidentally disturb the wobbegong or are mistaken for prey.
No, it’s not a part of the coral reef. Image credit: Jon Hanson
The tasselled wobbegong stands out as the most specialized member within its family. Its intricate color patterns and elaborate appearance provide exceptional camouflage, despite it being possibly slower in swimming compared to its relatives. However, this characteristic doesn’t put it at a disadvantage by any means.
While these creatures are typically solitary with each shark having a small territory comprising several favored resting spots used repeatedly, this species becomes more active at night, venturing onto the reef to hunt. Its large mouth enables it to swallow even sizable prey, as evidenced by a documented case of a 1.3-meter (4.3 ft) long individual devouring a 1.0-meter (3.3 ft) long brownbanded bamboo shark. Although primarily active at night, the carpet shark is an opportunistic ambush predator during the day, targeting nocturnal schooling fish like soldierfish and squirrelfish, as well as sweepers that often seek shelter in the same caves. Additionally, small fish and crustaceans have been observed settling on the resting wobbegong’s head, attracting larger fish that subsequently become prey for the wobbegong. Impressive!
Observations of these animals in captivity have also revealed a fascinating behavior: the species seems to engage in active luring. This behavior is quite unique. When the tasselled wobbegong senses nearby food, it slowly waves its tail back and forth, making its caudal fin resemble a small fish, complete with a dark eyespot at the base. As the shark typically rests with its head elevated, it remains within easy reach of any prey drawn in by this intriguing tail movement. Even humans.
Indeed, there have been several documented instances of wobbegongs attacking people seemingly without provocation, with the tasselled wobbegong earning a reputation for more aggressive behavior compared to its relatives. In 1940, Australian biologist Gilbert Whitley even claimed that it “attacks and generally kills the natives” of Papua New Guinea. Although the veracity of Whitley’s claim remains uncertain, this species is undoubtedly capable of inflicting severe wounds on humans. Nonetheless, the tasselled wobbegong is also a popular ecotourism attraction, with many divers approaching it without any incidents. However, given this shark’s cryptic appearance and poor vision, humans should exercise caution to avoid inadvertently disturbing it or triggering it to mistake a hand or foot for prey.
Flawless camouflage! Be careful not to tread on it! Image credit: Leonard Low
So, in the limited areas where the tasselled wobbegong can still be spotted, caution is advised. Regrettably, even these few spots are dwindling due to the negative impact of widespread fishing activities and habitat degradation caused by pollution, blast fishing, and coral removal.
We should definitely avoid stepping on it permanently.
