Tasselled wobbegong  (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon)

Description

This highly unusual looking shark is superbly camouflaged among sun-dappled coral by its beautiful mosaic markings of dark narrow lines and spots set against a yellowish-brown body (2) (3). The scientific name for the tasselled wobbegong (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon) roughly translates to 'well fringed nose with shaggy beard', referring to the distinctive mass of branching skin flaps that run continuously around the jaws, forming a lattice-like ‘beard’. This is more pronounced in this species than in any other wobbegong (2) (4). The tasselled wobbegong is also characterized by a very broad head and large, rounded pectoral fins (2).

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