[1] They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean, chiefly around Australia and Indonesia, although one species (the Japanese wobbegong, O. japonicus) occurs as far north as Japan.

They have a mottled or spotted cryptic pattern, and have elongated dermal lobes in the region near the mouth.

These sluggish ambush predators are typically seen resting on the seafloor, and at least some species are nocturnal.

While usually harmless to humans, they have been known to bite, but generally only if stepped on, approached too closely, or provoked.

The tasselled and cobbler wobbegongs have been included in this genus, but today they are placed in Eucrossorhinus and Sutorectus, respectively.