Spotted Wobbegong Shark
Posted on 01/01/2009 6:04:21 PM PST by nickcarraway
Normally when we think of sharks, the soundtrack of “Jaws” plays in our heads.
But when the Georgia Aquarium’s latest shark addition strikes, there is no da-dum, da-dum, da-dum. The kill is preceded by silence.
The world’s largest fish tank welcomed 12 new spotted wobbegong shark babies —- called pups —- born over several days during Christmas week. Spotted wobbegong sharks, which are native to coastal Australia, are motionless during the hunt and use their sandy color to blend in with the ocean floor and catch their food unaware.
“They are an ambush prey,” said Meghann Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the aquarium. “They blend in with the rocks.”
Spotted wobbegong sharks eat smelt, shrimp and clams.
The spotted wobbegong pups are the third shark species born at the aquarium since its opening, following the birth of zebra and bonnethead sharks. The new wobbegong pups average about 2.6 ounces at birth and are 8.3 inches long.
After having the first few pups, the mother spotted wobbegong was taken out of the Ocean Voyager tank to ensure the tykes would not become prey. Adult wobbegong sharks grow to be 3.5 feet to 4 feet long. The aquarium has about eight adult spotted wobbegong sharks on display.
Those interested in seeing the pups before they go on exhibit can see them in the aquarium’s behind-the- scenes tour.
In United States we call them "liberals."
Spotted Wobbegong Shark
Wow
Yeah, that’s what I thought.
Here’s some more info on it:
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/gallery/descript/spotwobbegong/spotwobbegong.html
“Welcome to Lake Wobbegong...where all the children are above average.”
You can buy these for your home aquarium if you have a tank large enough. Expensive though and extremely aggressive.
“Welcome to Lake Wobbegong...where all the children are above average.”
Bravo. Well done.
They are certainly fascinating, and less intimidating to look at than some other sharks. Maybe it’s because they aren’t as much of a threat to humans under most circumstances.
The beluga whales were the most interesting and beautiful animals in the Georgia aquarium. Could not believe how graceful they were.
doesn't she mean "ambush PREDATOR"?
One can only hope the spokesperson is a blond, because that shark is a predator, not prey.
Barring that possibility, she has no excuse for that ‘statement’.
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