Gulf Wobbegong, Orectolobus halei (Whitley, 1940)

Introduction

The Gulf Wobbegong 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. The Gulf Wobbegong have extremely ornate and variegated, yellowish to brown grey dorsally with darker corrugated saddles with a distinct margin bordering the saddles. They have been until recently confused with the Ornate Wobbegoing, Orectolobus ornatus, a smaller relative that is endemic to the Eastern Australian Coast.

Orectolobus halei was originally described in 1940 by the Australian Museum's fish curator Gilbert Whitley, as a subspecies (Orectolobus ornatus halei). Charlie Huveneers' 2006 paper redescribed the species and elevated it to full species status.

Distribution

Gulf Wobbegongs live in temperate and some subtropical waters from Southport Southern Queensland to Norwegian Bay Western Australia and south to Flinders Island Bass Strait. Found coastal and inshore on the continental shelf to about 100m. They are found in macroalgal covered reefs, coral reef lagoons, reef flats, faces and channels. The Gulf Wobbegong is a nocturnal species that rests in caves, under ledges or on large sponges during the day.

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

Feeding and diet

They eat small fish and other small sharks.

Life history

Gulf Wobbegongs reach maturity at about 16 years of age. The males mature at 168-181cm TL and females mature at 160-187cm. They are viviparious (give birth to live young) and usually produce a litter of 12-47 pups after a gestation period of 10-11 months.