PORT PHILLIP BAY


Blue Morwong 

Nemadactylus valenciennesi

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Meristics.
Dorsal fin spines/rays: XVI-XVII, 30-33
Anal fin spines/rays: III, 17-19
Caudal fin rays: 15
Pectoral fin rays: 15-16
Ventral fin spines/rays: I, 5
Lateral line: (onto caudal fin) 62-68
Vertebrae : 35

Interpreting fin count meristics.
Spines are in Roman numerals and soft rays are in Arabic numerals. Spines and rays that are continuous in one fin are separated by a comma. Fin sections are separated by semicolons.

Detailed descriptions of fin count and other meristics are in:
Gomon. M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) (2008) Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp.

Order level detail.
A Large and highly diverse group of modern bony fishes many of which have a generalized perch like body form. Most have pelvic fins with one spine and 5 rays and the maxillary bone is excluded from the gape of the mouth. Interrelationships of the group are poorly understood and continue to be studied. They inhabit almost all aquatic habitats from high-altitude strams to the deep sea, although most are marine.

Family level detail.
Large robust fishes with small mouths with large ?rubbery? lips, high numbers of spines and rays in dorsal fin, and lower rays in pectoral fins thickened, prolonged and partially detached in some, but thickened and unbranched but not prolonged in others, tail forked. Extremely popular commercial and recreational fishes.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Craniata
Superclass:
Gnathostomata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Perciformes
Family:
Cheilodactylidae
Genus:
Nemadactylus
Species:
valenciennesi

General Description

Body robust, compressed, with a slender tail base, thick lips, and pectoral fins with lower rays thickened, the uppermost thickened ray noticeably extended. Adults dark blue above, paler below, with wavy yellow and blue lines radiating from the eye, a faint dark blotch just below centre of lateral line; dorsal, anal and tail with yellow spots or wavy lines. Juveniles with alternating yellow and blue lines on body and more distinct lateral blotch. To 1 m.

Biology

This species is fished commercially and is good eating.

Habitat

Temperate waters, usually on deeper coastal reefs, in depths of 5-240 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Eastern and southern Australia.

Species Group

Fishes › Morwongs

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

1 m

Commercial Species

Yes

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Not listed

Author

article author Bray, D.J.

Di Bray is a Senior Collection Manager of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Gomon, M.F.

Dr. Martin Gomon is a Senior Curator of ichthyology at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Blue Morwong, Nemadactylus valenciennesi, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 25 Apr 2025, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/7710

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