tasselled wobbegong

[prettygoodword]

tasselled wobbegong (TAS-uhld WOB-ee-gong) - n., a bottom-dwelling carpet shark (Eucrossorhinus dasypogon) of the coasts of northern Australia and New Guinea with a fringe of elaborate dermal flaps around its head.


As redonkulous as that name is, the lede is partially buried there. Lemme give it the emphasis it needs:

It's a carpet shark.

There is a family of bottom-dwelling sharks (Orectolobidae) called carpet sharks. Who don't live in your carpet -- they're flat and live on the ocean floor, and so look like carpets -- this one more than usual:


Thanks, WikiMedia!

There are about 12 species of carpet sharks, also all called wobbegongs of various kinds, the name probably coming from an uncertain Indigenous Australian language. And in conclusion,

carpet sharks

---L.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

*cheers*

[prettygoodword]

I know, right?

[calzephyr]

Hah! I thought it was only birds that got mostly goofy names like wall-eyed titbanger :-D

[prettygoodword]

Nope!

[loup_noir]

I am amazed and educated and now have an odd need to find a carpet that looks much like that shark.

[prettygoodword]

Pics when you succeed!