Orectolobidae

gulf wobbegong

Orectolobus halei

Black edged saddles beneath twin brow knobs

• Temperate
• Regional distribution
• Marine fish
• Indian Ocean
• Oceania
• Large
• Temperate fish

The Gulf wobbegong or banded wobbegong (Orectolobus halei) is a species of carpet shark in the family Orectolobidae, found in southern Australia between Southport, Queensland and Norwegian Bay, Western Australia. Orectolobus halei is very similar to the ornate wobbegong, O. ornatus, of which it was treated as a synonym until 2006. Despite this, genetic evidence suggests that O. halei is more closely related to the largely sympatric spotted wobbegong, O. maculatus, than either are to the generally more northern O. ornatus.