Wobbegong - carpet shark

Let me introduce: a carpet shark, or simply a wobbegong.


Quite a lot of time has passed since the time when our team sailed through the sea at the western tip of Papua. This region is also called Raja-Ampat. In addition to Aboriginal tribes living there, this region is known as one of the most interesting dive sites on the planet. So there lives one very interesting shark. It is almost endemic, as it occurs only off the coast of Papua and in the north of Australia.



It is completely different from what we are accustomed to associating with a shark. No streamlined shape. On the contrary, everything is covered with outgrowths. Can not see the ravenous mouth. And instead of having to cruise along the reef, she prefers to lie somewhere under rocks or corals, like a stingray. And, of course, the color ... The drawing is grayish-sand color, it can accurately reflect the name of the species "carpet".



Due to its color and facade, it is extremely difficult to notice wobbegong on rocks and sand. Several times for a safari, I noticed for myself that I was looking at close eyes, and they were very close! And only then the brain begins to "separate" the contours of the shark from the surrounding landscape.


Shure. you did not immediately notice shark at this picture?)



So, certainly not one, and not even a dozen I missed, just swam by. And I think that the fish, which she hunts, the chances are not much greater. And once in all the time I managed to see how she is swimming. Itself, and not disturbed by divers. It lasted no more than 1-2 minutes, from the moment I noticed ahead of the floating silhouette, more like a UFO, and before it settled on a vast solid coral, like an armchair or even a sofa. True, and there she lay not long. Worried about the presence of a group of divers, the shark chose to hide in the water column.



At the same time, the speed with which it can swim regardless of the currents, does not correlate with its "decorative" appearance. For a two-week trip, I saw 5-6 of these sharks, and could view and shoot at any distance. And in the macro version of the Australian carpet is without doubt my favorite among the other sharks.

So I would gladly return to Raja Ampat if possible to meet some amazing local animals again)

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