Shark babies born at Georgia Aquarium

Normally when we think of sharks, the soundtrack of “Jaws” plays in our heads.

But when the Georgia Aquarium’s latest shark addition strikes, there is no da-dum, da-dum, da-dum. The kill is preceded by silence.

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Hyosub Shin /hshin@ajc.com

Marj Awai, senior biologist at the Georgia Aquarium, feeds pieces of shrimp to spotted wobbegong shark pups on Tuesday.

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Hyosub Shin /hshin@ajc.com

Twelve pups were born last week. Their average weight at birth was 2.6 ounces and 8.3 inches in length.

• Photos: Wobbegong shark pups dine on shrimp
• All about the Georgia Aquarium

The world’s largest fish tank welcomed 12 new spotted wobbegong shark babies — called pups — born over several days during Christmas week. Spotted wobbegong sharks, which are native to coastal Australia, are motionless during the hunt and use their sandy color to blend in with the ocean floor and catch their food unaware.

“They are an ambush prey,” said Meghann Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the aquarium. “They blend in with the rocks.”

Spotted wobbegong sharks eat smelt, shrimp and clams.

The spotted wobbegong pups are the third shark species born at the aquarium since its opening, following the birth of zebra and bonnethead sharks. The new wobbegong pups average about 2.6 ounces at birth and 8.3 inches long.

After having the first few pups, the mother spotted wobbegong was taken out of the Ocean Voyager tank to ensure the tykes would not become prey. Adult wobbegong sharks grow to 3.5 feet to 4 feet long. The aquarium has about eight adult spotted wobbegong sharks on display.

Those interested in seeing the pups before they go on exhibit can see them in the aquarium’s behind-the-scenes tour.