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Issue: Vol. 1239 No. 1: 21 Jun. 2006
Type: Articles
Published: 2006-06-21
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.1239.1.3
Page range: 35–48
Abstract views: 52
PDF downloaded: 4

A new wobbegong shark, Orectolobus hutchinsi n. sp. (Orectolobiformes: Orectolobidae) from southwestern Australia

Marine and Atmospheric Research, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
Department of Fisheries, Government of Western Australia. Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, PO Box 20, North Beach, WA 6920, Australia
Shark Research Centre, Iziko Museum of Cape Town, PO Box 61, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
Pisces Orectolobus hutchinsi Orectolobiformes wobbegong shark southwestern Australia

Abstract

Orectolobus hutchinsi n. sp.. is a moderate-sized wobbegong shark found in shallow continental shelf habitats off Western Australia. It occurs from Coral Bay (near North West Cape) south to Groper Bluff (west of Bremer Bay) in depths of 9–106 m where it is caught as by-catch of local gillnet, longline, rock lobster and recreational fisheries. It is sympatric with two other commercial wobbegong species, Orectolobus maculatus and O. ornatus, but differs from these and other IndoPacific species in having the combination of a few unbranched dermal lobes, relatively tall dorsal fins, no warty tubercles on the back of adults, and dark brown corrugated saddles without white spots and blotches. Some details of its biology are also provided.

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