Guide to Shark Identification

Order Orectolobiformes —
Carpet Sharks

The carpet sharks are a diverse group inhabiting coral and rocky reefs, with the greatest species richness occurring in the Indo-West Pacific region.  Many species are attractively patterned.  All orectoloboids share the following characteristics:

Key to selected orectoloboid families
Rhicodontidae | Stegostomatidae | Orectolobidae | Hemiscylliidae | Ginglymostomatidae

For more about Carpet Sharks

Family Orectolobidae — Wobbegongs

Wobbegongs are strange sharks restricted to Australian and Southeast Asian waters and feature the following characteristics:

Tassled Wobbegong (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon)

What to Look For:

Size:  average length 2 to 3 feet (60 to 100 centimetres), maximum 4 feet (1.2 metres)

Habitat:  Intertidal, Coral Reefs

Distribution:  Northern Australian

Spotted Wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus)

What to Look For:

Size:  average length 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 metres), maximum 10.5 feet (3.2 metres)

Habitat:  Estuaries, Sandy Plains, Rocky Reefs, Coral Reefs

Distribution:  ?Southeast Asian, Western Australian, Southeastern Australian/New Zealand, Northern Australian, ?Japanese

Ecological profile of the Spotted Wobbegong

Ornate Wobbegong (Orectolobus ornatus)

What to Look For:

Size:  average length 2 to 5 feet (0.6 to 1.5 metres), maximum 10 feet (2.9 metres)

Habitat:  Rocky Reefs, Coral Reefs

Distribution:  Southeast Asian, Western Australian, Southeastern Australian/New Zealand, Northern Australian, Japanese

Family Hemiscylliidae — Bamboo Sharks

Bamboo sharks are delicate little creatures inhabiting coral reefs in the Indo-West Pacific region.  All hemiscylliids share the following characteristics:

Epaulette Shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum)

What to Look For:

Size:  averages length about 24 inches (60 centimetres), maximum 42 inches (107 centimetres)

Habitat:  Intertidal, Coral Reefs

Distribution:  Western Australian, ?Southeastern Australian/New Zealand, Northern Australian

Ecological profile of the Epaulette Shark

Family Ginglymostomatidae — Nurse Sharks

Nurse sharks are bottom-loving creatures most commonly associated with coral reef habitats.  All ginglymostomatids share the following features:

Nurse Shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum)

What to Look For:

Size:  average length 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.3 metres), maximum to 9 feet (2.8 metres)

Habitat:  Intertidal, Estuaries, Sandy Plains, Rocky Reefs, Coral Reefs

Distribution:  Tropical Eastern Pacific, Chilean, Argentinean, Amazonian, Caribbean, Western North Atlantic, ?Eastern North Atlantic/Mediterranean, West African, ?Southern African

Ecological profile of the Nurse Shark

Tawny Nurse Shark (Nebrius ferrugineus)

What to Look For:

Size:  average length about 7 feet (2.3 metres), maximum 10.5 feet (3.2 metres)

Habitat:  Intertidal, Sandy Plains, Coral Reefs

Distribution:  Central Pacific, Madagascaran, Arabian, Indian, Southeast Asian, Northern Australian

Family Stegostomatidae — Zebra Shark

The highly distinctive Zebra Shark is the sole representative of its family, whose characteristics (as given below) can be considered the same as those for its only species.

Zebra Shark (Stegostoma fasciatum)

What to Look For:

Size:  average length 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.3 metres), maximum to 11.5 feet (3.5 metres)

Habitat:  Rocky Reefs, Coral Reefs

Distribution:  Southern African, Madagascaran, Arabian, Indian, Southeast Asian, Western Australian, Southeastern Australian/New Zealand, Northern Australian, Japanese

Ecological profile of the Zebra Shark

Family Rhincodontidae — Whale Shark

The highly distinctive Whale Shark is the sole representative of its family, whose characteristics (as given below) can be considered the same as those for its only species.

Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)

What to Look For:

Size:  average length 23 to 35 feet (7 to 10.5 metres), maximum to at least 45 feet (13 metres).

Habitat:  Rocky Reefs, Coral Reefs, Open Ocean, Deep Sea

Distribution:  Central Pacific, Tropical Eastern Pacific, Argentinean, Amazonian, Caribbean, Western North Atlantic, West African, Southern African, Central Indian, Madagascaran, Arabian, Indian, Southeast Asian, Western Australian, Northern Australian, Japanese

Ecological profile of the Whale Shark

 

ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research
Text and illustrations © R. Aidan Martin
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