The tasselled wobbegong is a stocky, flattened shark with an unmistakable fringe of whisker-like barbels around its mouth and head—a feature that gives it its name. Found on continental shelves and reef slopes of northern Australia and southern New Guinea, typically between 10 and 100 metres, it spends much of the day resting on sandy or rocky bottom. Like other wobbegongs, it is an ambush predator that relies on camouflage and patience to hunt fish and crustaceans at night; the barbels may help detect prey moving nearby. Divers are most likely to spot one lying motionless during a reef night dive or early morning exploration.
Most likely to be seen at
Sites where its range and habitat make it likely — not yet confirmed by a logged sighting.