THE ELASMODIVER SHARK AND RAY FIELD GUIDE

 

SHARK GUIDE

SHARK PICTURES

WHAT'S NEW?

SHARK BLOG

MERCHANDISE

SHARK TRIPS

SITE MAP

E-MAIL

 

 SHARK INFO

SHARK & RAY FIELD GUIDE

SHARK PICTURE DATABASE

SHARK TAXONOMY

SHARK

BIOLOGY

SHARK EVOLUTION

SHARK FACTS FOR KIDS

 

SHARK DIVING

SHARK DIVING EXPEDITIONS

SHARK DIVING 101

SHARK DIVING HOTSPOTS

SHARK DIVING STORIES

SHARK FEEDING ADVICE

SHARK

ATTACKS

 

CONSERVATION

SHARKS UNDER THREAT

PREDATORS IN PERIL

 

PHOTOGRAPHY

SHARK PHOTO TIPS

DAILY SHARK IMAGES

 

RESOURCES

SHARK NEWS

SHARK LINKS

SHARK BOOKS

SHARK FILMS

SHARK TERMS

 

WEB STUFF

CONTACT ELASMODIVER

ABOUT ELASMODIVER

ANDY MURCH ELASMO GEEK

 

WHAT IS ELASMODIVER?

Not just a huge collection of Shark Pictures: Elasmodiver.com contains images of sharks, skates, rays, and a few chimaera's from around the world. Elasmodiver began as a simple web based shark field guide to help divers find the best places to encounter the different species of sharks and rays that live in shallow water but it has slowly evolved into a much larger project containing information on all aspects of shark diving and shark photography.

There are now more than 10,000 shark pictures  and sections on shark evolution, biology, and conservation. There is a large library of reviewed shark books, a constantly updated shark taxonomy page, a monster list of shark links, and deeper in the site there are numerous articles and stories about shark encounters. Elasmodiver is now so difficult to check for updates, that new information and pictures are listed on an Elasmodiver Updates Page that can be accessed here:

WHAT'S NEW?

Shark picture - green sawfish

_

 

 

 

JAPANESE WOBBEGONG

Japanese wobbegong - Orectolobus japanicus

 

Japanese wobbegong - Orectolobus japanicus

Photographs copyright of Andy Murch all rights reserved.

 

View all available Japanese Wobbegong Shark Pictures in the Shark Pictures Database

 

Common Names: Japanese wobbegong.

 

Latin Name: Orectolobus japonicus

 

Family: Orectolobidae

 

Identification: Dorsum light brown with many small pale spots. 9 prominent, irregular, dark brown saddles from snout to tip of tail. Saddles corugated and pale edged. Nasal barbells long with fleshy bases. Five groups of dermal lobes (skin flaps) on each side of head: Inner group attached to barbells, second group thin and small, third group long and weakly branched, fourth and fifth groups short and wide.

 

Size: Maximum TL at least 118cm. Birth size approx 21-23cm. Males mature at around 103cm. Females mature between 100-107cm.

 

Habitat: Found on rocky and coral reefs from intertidal to 200m.

 

Distribution: The Japanese wobbegong can be found around the coastlines of Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Taiwan and Vietnam.

 

Diet:  Remains motionless during the day usually hidden under ledges. Forages for benthic fishes. Also known to eat skates, shark eggcases, cephalopods and shrimp.

 

Reproduction: Viviparous. One year gestation. 20-27 pups per litter.

 

Conservation Status: Listed as DATA DEFICIENT by the IUCN. The Japanese Wobbegong (Orectolobus japonicus) is caught in bottom set gillnets in Japan and used for human consumption. It may also be taken in China, Taiwan (Province of China), Korea and Viet Nam, but no data are currently available to determine catch levels or population trends. Despite these threats, insufficient information is currently available to assess this species beyond Data Deficient. Its distribution in areas historically and presently exploited by trawl fisheries is of concern, particularly as declines have been observed in other wobbegong species where they are heavily fished. Further investigation into threats, population numbers, catch levels and its life-history is required.

 

Photographs: Mikomoto Island, Izu Peninsula, Japan.

 

Similar species: There are at least 12 species of wobbegongs. Most can be distinguished by barbell configuration and markings. The Japanese wobbegong is best identified by geographic range as it is the only orectolobid shark occurring in the orient.

 

Reaction to divers: Remains motionless relying on camouflage unless closely harassed.

Diving logistics: This wobbegong can be found at Mikomoto Island at the southern end of the Izu Peninsula on Honshu Island. The largest aggregations are there during the warmer summer months but you can also find a few in October when the scalloped hammerhead schools are there.

Independent travel and diving arrangements can be difficult for non-Japanese speakers but Big Fish Expeditions runs a yearly Japanese Shark Safari that includes diving with the schooling hammerheads and wobbegongs as well as many other species.

 

Citation(s):

Tanaka, S., Nakaya, K., Wang, Y & Alava, M. 2009. Orectolobus japonicus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2009: e.T161563A5452171. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2009-2.RLTS.T161563A5452171.en. Downloaded on 27 November 2017.

HOME     LINKS     TAXONOMY      UNDER THREAT     BOOKS     CONTACT

 

 

 

 SHARK TRIPS

 

MORE EXPEDITIONS

 

SPONSORS

 

ADVERTISERS

 

ELASMO-BLOGS

SharkPictures   Shark & Ray Field Guide   SharkPhotography   SharkDiving   Taxonomy   Evolution   Biology   SharkAttacks   Books   Shark Movies   Stories   Extinction   Protection   Updates   SiteMap

 

CONTACT ELASMODIVER

elasmodiver@gmail.com

250-588-8267

P.O.Box 8719 Station Central, Victoria, BC., V8W 3S3, Canada