Knowra Carpet shark Carpet shark A member of the shark order Orectolobiformes, whose species include wobbegongs, bamboo sharks, nurse sharks, and whale sharks. Most live near the seabed, though whale sharks are open-water filter feeders.
Orectolobiformes : The shark order containing wobbegongs, bamboo sharks, nurse sharks, and whale sharks. Carpet sharks are members of this order, whose diversity spans small bottom dwellers and the largest fish.
Wobbegong : A group of flattened, patterned carpet sharks native to the Indo-Pacific, often with skin flaps around the mouth. Wobbegongs are the most recognizable ambush predators among carpet sharks.
Ambush predation : A hunting strategy in which a predator waits concealed before attacking prey that comes within reach. Wobbegongs use camouflage and stillness to strike at passing prey.
Shark finning : The removal of a shark’s fins, often followed by discarding the body at sea. Some carpet sharks are caught for fins, although fishing pressure varies greatly by species.
Shark : A cartilaginous fish belonging to the subclass Elasmobranchii, with a skeleton made primarily of cartilage. Carpet sharks are one branch of the broader shark lineage.
Bamboo shark : A small, slender carpet shark in the family Hemiscylliidae, generally living in shallow Indo-Pacific waters. Bamboo sharks represent the small, bottom-dwelling end of the order’s range.
Filter feeding : A feeding method that strains small organisms or particles from water. Whale sharks use this method, contrasting with the prey-catching habits of many bottom-dwelling relatives.
Bycatch : Animals unintentionally captured during fishing aimed at other species. Coastal and bottom fisheries can incidentally catch carpet sharks.
Barbel : A slender sensory projection near an animal’s mouth, often bearing taste or touch receptors. Many carpet sharks have mouth barbels that help detect food near the seabed.
Nurse shark : A bottom-associated shark in the family Ginglymostomatidae, found mainly in warm coastal waters. Nurse sharks are familiar coastal carpet sharks that can rest in groups.
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