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🌊 Marine 🌡️ Temperate

Dusky morwong

Dactylophora nigricans Richardson, 1850
Max Length
120 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
2.9
Depth
-
Climate
Temperate
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
72.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Found in seagrass beds and near rocky outcrops . Feeds on polychaetes, isopods, amphipods and brown algae. Flesh of smaller fish is excellent eating, but its quality deteriorates with age .

Scientific Name
Dactylophora nigricans
Authority
Richardson, 1850
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Temperate
Max Length
120 cm
Trophic Level
2.9
Resilience
Very low
Vulnerability
72.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 15 - 16; Dorsal soft rays (total): 24 - 26; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10. This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D XV-XVI, 24-26; A III, 9-10; pectoral-fin rays 14 with ventral 5 unbranched and thickened; lateralli ne scales 45-55; height of the soft dorsal fin is roughly equal to height of the spinous portion; elongated body with shallow dorsal head profile; body cylindrical in cross section; scales cycloid and large on body; eyes moderate in size; no bone processes on frontal bones or maxilla .Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Dusky morwong is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous 📦 Batch Spawner
Spawning Season
spring-summer
Spawn Location
Pelagic
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; reef-associated; depth range ? - 60 m . Temperate

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
2.9±0.38
Food Items

polychaetes, isopods, amphipods and brown algae

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00389 × L3.12 (TL)
Max TL
120cm
Dorsal Spines
16
Dorsal Rays
25
Anal Spines
3
Anal Rays
10

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
Very low
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
72.00/100
High vulnerability
Trophic Level
2.9
Omnivore / Planktivore
Climate Zone
Temperate
Described By
Richardson, 1850

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Black Butterfish · Butter Perch · Butterfish · Dusky Morwong · Nunckla · Nunda · Shitfish · Strongfish · Tillywurti
🌍CES morvong temný
🇵🇹Portuguese Morwong-de-estuário
🇷🇺Russian Дактилофора

Scientific Synonyms

Scientific Name Author Year Status
Cheilodactylus nigricans Richardson 1850 Synonym
Nemadactylus nigricans Richardson 1850 Synonym
Psilocranium nigricans Richardson 1850 Synonym

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 28 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

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