Morphology of the blood cells from three species of wobbegong sharks (Orectolobus species) on the east coast of New South Wales

This study is the first study to describe blood cell morphology, using light microscopy, for three species of wild‐caught wobbegong shark. Blood cell morphology was similar to that described previously in fish. Wobbegong sharks possess erythrocytes, at least three different morphological types of thrombocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, granuloblasts and monocytes. No basophils were observed in this study. Similarities and differences in morphological appearance of wobbegong shark blood cells compared to Chondrichthyes, teleosts and mammalian blood cells are discussed. Zoo Biol 0:1–10, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.