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Blue morwong (Nemadactylus douglasii) — Cheilodactylidae

Blue morwong

Nemadactylus douglasii

The Blue morwong (Nemadactylus douglasii) is a saltwater fish of the family Cheilodactylidae that grows up to 81 cm.

Length
81 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–200.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The grey morwong is a morwong (Latridae) from the waters around southeastern Australia. The species has a fairly deep, silvery-grey body with a small mouth and elongated lower pectoral fin rays with which it probes the bottom. It lives on the continental shelf, often near rocky reefs. Bottom-bound, it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as crustaceans, worms and molluscs. It is a valued food fish. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blue morwong?

The Blue morwong has a torpedo-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blue morwong live?

The Blue morwong lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Blue morwong get?

The Blue morwong grows to a maximum of about 81 cm.

Is the Blue morwong dangerous to humans?

No, the Blue morwong is harmless to humans.

Is the Blue morwong edible?

Yes, the Blue morwong is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Grijze morwong sourced
English name
Blue morwong verified
Scientific name
Nemadactylus douglasii
Family
Cheilodactylidae
Other names
Butterfish; Douglas' morwong; Eastern blue morwong; Great perch; Grey morwong verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
81.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Nemadactylus

More from the family Cheilodactylidae

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