SHARKS 33 



but more probably to the baleen-like gill-rakers. The scientific 

 name, Rhineodon, is derived from the Greek words for " file " 

 and " tooth ", and refers to the rasp-like tooth bands. 



WOBBEGONGS OR CARPET SHARKS. 

 (Genus Orectolobus.) Fig. 17. 



The body is thick-set and its front part is more or less 

 flattened ; the head is broad and flat, with a very blunt 

 snout. The sides of the head, and often the chin as well, 

 are provided with tassels of skin. The eyes are small and are 

 provided with folds below. The mouth is wide, nearly 

 straight, and is situated almost at the end of the head ; it 

 is armed with slender, pointed teeth, of which those in the 

 centre are larger and with a single point and those at the 

 sides smaller and with some additional points. The spiracles 

 have the form of wide, oblique slits, situated behind and below 

 the eyes. The external gill-clefts are of moderate size, and 

 the last 3 or 4 on each side are above the base of the pectoral 

 fin. The second dorsal fin is about as large as the first, and is 

 placed in front of the anal, which reaches to or is actually 

 joined at its base to the lower lobe of the caudal fin. The 

 caudal fin is moderately long, with a straight axis, and there 

 is a notch in the hinder part of the lower lobe. The pectoral 

 fins are broad and often rounded. The coloration is very 

 variable, the ground-colour being yellowish, greyish or 

 brownish, and variously marbled, spotted, barred or striped 

 with paler and darker. 



The larger species grow to a length of 6 to 8 feet or even 

 more. 



There are about five species, occurring on the coasts of 

 China Japan, eastern and southern Australia. 



The flattened, thick-set shape, the curious tassel-like 

 appendages on the blunt head, and the mottled coloration, 

 give these Sharks an appearance very different from any so 

 far considered. When the mode of life, however, and especially 

 the manner of obtaining food is considered, the meaning of 

 these features becomes clearer. Instead of going in active 

 pursuit of prey like a Blue Shark, a process associated with a 



