Carpet Sharks – Orectolobiformes

Shark Database | Carpet Sharks – Orectolobiformes

Orectolobiformes, also known as carpet sharks, are a diverse of sharks characterized for having two dorsal fins, five gill slits, and relatively short mouths. Several species have barbels and some have intricate carpet-like patterns, which give this order its nickname. Orectolobiformes range in size from just over 30 cm, like some species of @carpet shark, to the whale shark, the largest fish in the ocean, which can be up to 14 m long.

All Sharks In This Order:

Nurse Shark

Nurse Shark

Family: Ginglymostomatidae | Genus: Ginglymostoma | Species: Ginglymostoma cirratum | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Data Deficient

Intro: The Nurse shark, also referred to as the cat shark or carpet shark is a coastal shark found in tropical and subtropical waters on continental and insular shelves. They are often near patch reefs, both coralline and rocky, where… read more.

Ornate Wobbegong

Ornate Wobbegong

Family: Orectolobidae | Genus: Orectolobus | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Least Concern

The Ornate wobbegong shark is a common carpet shark found in tropical waters, in algal-covered rocky areas and coral reefs. This species is native to the Indo-Pacific, from Indonesia to Papua New Guinea and south to Australia.    Biology and… read more.

Pacific Nurse Shark

Family: Ginglymostomatidae | Genus: Ginglymostoma | Species: Ginglymostoma Unami | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Data Deficient

The Ginglymostoma Unami, also known as the Pacific Nurse Shark, is a nurser shark that belongs to the Ginglymostomatidae family. This shark is found in the southeastern coast of Baja California, Mexico and Costa Rica including the Gulf of California…. read more.

Papuan Epaulette Shark

Family: Hemiscylliidae | Genus: Hemiscyllium | Species: Hemiscyllium hallstromi | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Vulnerable

Intro: Papuan Epaulette sharks reef-associated sharks found in shallow tropical waters of the Western South Pacific Ocean. The Papuan Epaulette shark is commonly found on seagrass beds and occasional rock and coral outcrops. They are vulnerable to threats in the… read more.

Rusty Carpetshark

Family: Parascylliidae | Genus: Parascyllium | Species: Parascyllium ferrugineum | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Least Concern

Rusty Carpetsharks are endemic to the southern coast of Australia in the Eastern Indian Ocean at depths between 5 to 150 m underwater. They live near the bottom or inshore near rocks and river mouths. They are nocturnal and rarely… read more.

Saddle Carpetshark

Saddle Carpetshark

Family: Parascylliidae | Genus: Cirrhoscyllium | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Data Deficient

Also known as the Saddled Carpetshark, this rare, poorly-known shark species is native to temperate waters of the northwest Pacific. They can be found on the uppermost slopes at 250-290 metres in southwest Japan (Shikoku and Kyushu to Yakushima Island… read more.

Short-tail Nurse shark

Family: Ginglymostomatidae | Genus: Pseudoginglymostoma | Species: Pseudoginglymostoma Brevicaudatum | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Vulnerable

The Short-tail nurse shark is an inshore bottom-dwelling shark found in shallow water and reefs Tropical waters. These sharks are native to the Western Indian Oceans commonly found around East Africa, Madagascar and possibly Mauritius and Seychelles. They are at… read more.

Slender Bamboo Shark

Family: Hemiscylliidae | Genus: Chiloscyllium | CITES: Not Listed | IUCN: Near Threatened

The Slender Bamboo Shark is a bamboo shark in the family Hemiscylliidae, found in the Indo-West Pacific Oceans. Biology and Description: The Slender Bamboo Shark has a mouth located in front of the eyes. Has an elongated precaudal tail. The… read more.

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