Banded Carpet Shark, Orectolobus halei Whitley, 1940

Scientific name: Orectolobus halei
Alternative name/s:
Gulf Wobbegong
Banded Carpet Shark, Orectolobus halei Click to enlarge image
Neotype of the Banded Carpet Shark from the Australian Museum Ichthyology Collection (AMS I.43628-002) Image: Charlie Huveneers
© Charlie Huveneers

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Species
    halei
    Genus
    Orectolobus
    Family
    Orectolobidae
    Order
    Orectolobiformes
    Class
    Chondrichthyes
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    It grows to over 2 m in length with unconfirmed reports stating that the species can reach 2.9 m in length.

Introduction

The Banded Carpet Shark is a distinctively coloured species. It has dark corrugated saddles that are bordered by rows of small dark spots.

Identification

The species has several branched dermal lobes on the head margin. There are two tubercles above the eyes and a white spot behind both spiracles.

Orectolobus halei was originally described in 1940 by the Australian Museum's fish curator Gilbert Whitley, as a subspecies (Orectolobus ornatus halei). Charlie Huveneers' paper redescribed the species and elevated it to full species status.

Banded Wobbegong, Orectolobus ornatus
A Banded Wobbegong at Broughton Island, NSW. Image: Grey McNeil
© Grey McNeil

Distribution

Temperate and some subtropical waters from southern Queensland to the central coast of Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Life history cycle

Banded Carpet Sharks reach maturity at about 16 years of age.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Huveneers, C. 2006. Redescription of two species of wobbegongs (Chondrichthys: Orectolobidae) with elevation of Orectolbus halei Whitley 1940 to species level. Zootaxa. 1284: 29-51.
  3. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Edition 2. CSIRO. Pp. 644, Pl. 1-91.

Life history cycle

Banded Carpet Sharks reach maturity at about 16 years of age.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Huveneers, C. 2006. Redescription of two species of wobbegongs (Chondrichthys: Orectolobidae) with elevation of Orectolbus halei Whitley 1940 to species level. Zootaxa. 1284: 29-51.
  3. Last, P.R. & J.D. Stevens. 2009. Sharks and Rays of Australia. Edition 2. CSIRO. Pp. 644, Pl. 1-91.