Ornate wobbegong

Description

The ornate wobbegong (Orectolobus ornatus) is a species of carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae,found in the western Pacific Ocean around eastern Indonesia,Papua New Guinea,and Australia,between latitudes 1° N and 34° S (near Sydney).As yet,only Australian populations are known to certainly belong to this species,and it is possible populations in other countries represent a separate,undescribed species.The maximum reported length of the ornate wobbegong is 1.17 metres (3.8 ft).Reports of a larger maximum size are due to confusion with the recently revalidated gulf wobbegong,O.halei,which for the most part is found further south than the ornate wobbegong.