Marine life  /  Sharks & rays  /  Ornate wobbegong
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Species entry

Ornate wobbegong

Orectolobus ornatus

A smaller, more strongly patterned wobbegong of the east coast, usually wedged into a crevice with only the head showing.

Size
To 120 cm
Depth
3–30 m
Habitat
Coral and rocky reef, in crevices
Active
Day and night
Range
Australia and New Guinea
Rarity
Australia
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
SP-01
ornate wobbegong · full body · habitat
4:3 · min 2400px

To about 1.2 m, smaller and more strongly patterned than the spotted wobbegong, usually wedged into a crevice on coral or rocky reef with only the head showing. The two overlap in range and are separated on the pattern and on the shape of the skin lobes around the mouth.

The hazard is the same and for the same reason: it does not move, it bites what touches it, and it holds. Its habit of jamming itself into a crevice means the part of it a diver sees is the part with the teeth in it.

Where to find:

LocationRarity Best monthsDepthHabitat
Australia Australia editorial estimate
3 stars of 5, a good week should turn one up
Year-round
3–30 m
Coral and rocky reef, in crevices

Ratings are per location: 1 means found on most dives that look for it, 5 means a handful of records. Where enough dives have been logged the figure is calculated from them; otherwise it is an editorial estimate, and says so. We publish habitat and destination, not the dive site.

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