# spotted wobbegong (*Orectolobus maculatus*) The spotted wobbegong is a unique shark that looks like a big, flat carpet! It has cool patterns on its body that help it blend in with the ocean floor, making it a great hunter. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![spotted wobbegong](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Spotted_wobbegong.jpg&width=800) Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spotted_wobbegong.jpg) ## Appearance The spotted wobbegong has a flattened, broad body covered in a mosaic of dark saddles and white rings against a yellowish-brown background. Its head is fringed with elaborate, leaf-like dermal lobes, giving it a 'shaggy' appearance that helps it disappear into reef environments. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Elasmobranchii - **Order:** Orectolobiformes - **Family:** Orectolobidae - **Genus:** Orectolobus ## Interesting facts - They are surprisingly tough, able to survive out of water for short periods! - They can pump water over their gills without swimming, staying perfectly hidden! - Unlike many sharks, they have powerful jaws and many small, sharp teeth. - Wobbegongs are a type of carpet shark, named for their flattened, carpet-like appearance. ## Special abilities - **Camouflage Master:** Spotted wobbegong has a flattened, patterned body and frilly skin flaps that help them blend perfectly into rocky and sandy seafloors. - **Ambush Predator:** Spotted wobbegong can wait perfectly still for hours, using its camouflage to surprise unsuspecting fish and invertebrates passing by. - **Mouth Lure:** Spotted wobbegong has small, whisker-like skin flaps around its mouth that help lure curious prey closer for a quick strike. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 150-320 cm - **Weight:** 50-150 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-20 years - **Swim Speed:** 5 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 110 m - **Water Type:** Saltwater ## Diet & Feeding They eat small fish and other ocean creatures by ambushing them from the seafloor. - **Primary Foods:** small fish, octopuses, crabs, lobsters - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Dash-and-dot goatfish (*Parupeneus barberinus*) — hunts them from camouflage - **Eats:** Common octopus (*Octopus vulgaris*) — snatches unwary cephalopods - **Eaten by:** Grey nurse shark (*Carcharias taurus*) — larger sharks prey on them ## Traits - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch from a distance and never touch wild animals in the ocean. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify spotted wobbegong? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is spotted wobbegong? 150-320 cm ### How much does spotted wobbegong weigh? 50-150 kg ### How long does spotted wobbegong live? 10-20 years ### What does spotted wobbegong eat? They eat small fish and other ocean creatures by ambushing them from the seafloor. ### How fast can spotted wobbegong swim? 5 km/h ### Where is spotted wobbegong usually found? Coastal areas ### How does spotted wobbegong hunt? Ambush ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Spotted Wobbegong: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-wobbegong)