Bite was a wobbegong

A WOBBEGONG has been identified as the species of shark that bit a Sydney surfer.

The 28-year-old man was bitten on the foot at Manly just before 7pm on Wednesday, prompting a shark alarm to be sounded at the popular beach.

The Department of Primary Industries yesterday said a shark biologist had assessed photographs of the wounds to identify the culprit as a wobbegong shark.

The brown-coloured fish can grow up to three metres, inhabits shallow inshore waters and can become aggressive if disturbed.