Wobbegong
Tasselled wobbegong (Teguh Tirtaputra / shutterstock.com)
Wobbegongs (Orectolobidae) are well-camouflaged, bottom-dwelling sharks with highly patterned bodies. The wobbegong's broad head is fringed with branching dermal flaps. The spotted wobbegong (Orectolobus maculatus) is the largest species, reaching 3.2 meters (10.5 feet) in length. Most species inhabit rocky or coral reefs. 23 unprovoked attacks on humans (all non-fatal) have been reported as of 2022.
Inhabits the Indo-Pacific Ocean.
This supplemental online resource accompanies the book Scuba Diving Hand Signals by Lars Behnke, available on
Amazon.