Which shark is named for the tassel-like lobes around its mouth?

The shark named for the tassel-like lobes around its mouth is the tasselled wobbegong.

The tasselled wobbegong, Eucrossorhinus dasypogon, is a carpet shark found around shallow coral reefs in northern Australia, New Guinea, and nearby islands. Its most distinctive feature is a fringe of branching dermal lobes running around the head and extending beneath the chin. These fleshy projections give the shark its tassel-like appearance and help break up its outline against the reef.

This species is a slow-moving ambush predator. It often rests motionless in caves or beneath ledges during the day, then becomes more active at night. Its camouflage combines the head fringe with a mottled pattern of blotches and lines. It feeds on fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods, and its large mouth can engulf surprisingly large prey.

The species was first described in 1867 by Pieter Bleeker. Its species name, dasypogon, comes from Greek words meaning “hairy beard.” The name wobbegong is also associated with carpet sharks, but not every wobbegong has such an elaborate facial fringe.