How many species are called wobbegong?

The name wobbegong applies to 12 species of carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae.

Where are wobbegongs found?

They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters of the western Pacific and eastern Indian Oceans, chiefly around Australia and Indonesia, with at least one species reaching Japan.

Are wobbegongs a type of carpet shark?

Yes; wobbegongs are members of the carpet-shark family Orectolobidae.

Which wobbegong species reaches Japan?

The Japanese wobbegong, Orectolobus japonicus, occurs as far north as Japan.

In which oceans do wobbegongs live?

They occur in the western Pacific Ocean and the eastern Indian Ocean.

What habitat do wobbegongs prefer?

They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters.

What notable physical feature gives wobbegongs their name?

The name references the shaggy beard-like growths around the mouth.

Where to See Wobbegong While Diving

Q: What does the name "wobbegong" mean?

The word is thought to come from an Australian Aboriginal language meaning "shaggy beard," referring to the growths around the mouth.

Wobbegong is the common name for the 12 species of carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae. They occur in shallow temperate and tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean, chiefly around Australia and Indonesia. One species, the Japanese wobbegong (Orectolobus japonicus), ranges as far north as Japan. The name "wobbegong" likely comes from an Australian Aboriginal language meaning "shaggy beard," a reference to the growths around the shark's mouth.

The strongest linked planning options currently surface around destinations such as Raja Ampat, Sydney, Perth and Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) and countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Japan for divers building trips around wobbegongs.