Unlike sharks built for speed, the tasselled wobbegong relies on stealth and patience. Its body is covered with narrow dark lines and blotchy patterns that match the reef.
With a strong terminal lobe on its caudal fin and a subterminal notch on the upper lobe, it can curl its tail beneath itself while lying in wait.
The shark’s pectoral and pelvic fins are broad and rounded, perfect for resting motionless on the seabed. The dorsal fin sits far back on its body, just past the pelvic fin bases. Together, these features support a lifestyle of lurking in plain sight.
