Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Anal spines: 0. Back with light areas between dark saddles marked with dark, light-centered blotches and spots, not reticulated lines (Ref. 13577). Caudal fin with its upper lobe hardly elevated above the body axis, with a strong terminal lobe and subterminal notch but no ventral lobe (Ref. 13577).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Elasmobranchii

Order: Orectolobiformes

Family: Orectolobidae

Genus: Orectolobus

Species: Orectolobus ornatus (De Vis, 1883)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

A common bottom shark of inshore continental waters, on algal-covered rocky areas and coral reefs (Ref. 247). Nocturnal, resting on the bottom during the day and prowling on its reef habitat at night (Ref. 247). Presumably feeding on bottom invertebrates and fishes but diet unrecorded (Ref. 13577). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 50449). Attacks waders and fishers in tide pools (Ref. 247). Interest to fisheries limited; its skin very tough and attractively patterned and utilized for leather (Ref. 13577).

Habitat

associated