Wobbegong

shark · ocean floor · camouflage · Australia

Bumpy carpet shark. Wobbegongs are sharks with wrinkled, bumpy skin that makes them look like a piece of living carpet. Their scientific family name, Orectolobidae, means they're carpet sharks, and they really do blend in with the ocean floor.

Australian homebodies. These sharks live in shallow waters around Australia, Indonesia, and nearby areas in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. One species even swims as far north as Japan, making them the most widely traveled wobbegong.

Expert hide-and-seek player. Wobbegongs have spotted and patterned skin that camouflages them perfectly against rocks and sand. They stay still on the ocean floor waiting for fish and other creatures to swim by, then snap them up in a quick surprise attack.

Barbels for sensing. Many wobbegongs have whisker-like sensory organs called barbels around their mouth that help them detect movement and smell in the water. These tools help them hunt in the darkness of the deep ocean floor.

Twelve different species. There are 12 different kinds of wobbegongs, each with slightly different patterns, sizes, and habits. Scientists keep studying them to learn more about these mysterious bottom-dwelling sharks.