View source for Red morwong

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = CheilodactylusFuscusRLS.jpg
| image_caption =
| genus = Cheilodactylus
| parent = Morwong
| species = fuscus
| authority = [[Francis de Laporte de Castelnau|Castelnau]], 1879
| synonyms = * ''Morwong fuscus'' <small>(Castelnau, 1879)</small>
* ''Goniistius fuscus'' <small>(Castelnau, 1879)</small>
* ''Cheilodactylus annularis'' <small>Castelnau, 1879</small>
| synonyms_ref = <ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase|Morwong|fuscus|month=June|year=2021}}</ref>
}}

The '''red morwong''' ('''''Cheilodactylus (Morwong) fuscus'''''), also known as the '''sea carp''', is a species of marine [[ray finned fish]] traditionally regarded as belonging  to the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Cheilodactylidae]], the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is found off southeast [[Australia]] and the [[North Island]] of [[New Zealand]] from shallow depths to at least 55 m, on rocky [[reef]] and coastal areas.<ref name="Fett1">{{cite journal |last1=Fetterplace |first1=Lachlan C. |last2=Turnbull |first2=John W. |last3=Knott |first3=Nathan A. |last4=Hardy |first4=Natasha A. |title=Natural History Report. The Devil in the Deep: Expanding the Known Habitat of a Rare and Protected Fish |journal=European Journal of Ecology |date=28 August 2018 |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=22–29 |doi=10.2478/eje-2018-0003|doi-access=free }}</ref>  Its length is between 30 and 60&nbsp;cm.

==Taxonomy==
The red morwong was first formally [[Species description|described]] in 1879 by the French [[naturalist]] [[Francis de La Porte Castelnau]] with the [[Type locality (biology)|type locality]] given as [[Sydney]] market.<ref name = CofF>{{Cof genus | genus = Morwong | access-date = 2 August 2021}}</ref> The Australian ichthyologist Gilbert Percy Whitley created the genus Morwong this species was its only member and so was the type species of the genus by monotypy.<ref name = CofF2>{{Cof family | family = Latridae | access-date = 2 August 2021}}</ref> The [[Specific name (zoology)|specific name]] ''fuscus'' means “dusky”, thought to be the colour of [[Zoology specimens|specimens]] preserved in spirit.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web | url = https://etyfish.org/centrarchiformes/ | title =Order Centrarchiformes: Families Centrarchidae, Elassomatidae, Eoplosidae, Sinipercidae, Aplodactylidae, Cheilodactylidae, Chironemidae, Cirrhitidae, Latridae, Percichthydiae, Dichistitidae, Girellidae, Kuhliidae, Kyphosidae, Oplegnathidae, Terapontidae, Microcanthidae, and Scorpididae | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | editor1= Christopher Scharpf | editor2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp |date = 25 February 2021 | access-date = 2 August 2021 | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}</ref>

The true taxonomic relationships of the taxa traditionally classified under the family Cheilodactylidae have been considered uncertain and to have been poorly supported by some authorities over a long period of time.<ref name = FAO>{{cite book | editor1 = Carpenter, K.E. | editor2 =  Niem, V.H. | name-list-style = and | title = FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Volume 5. Bony fishes part 3 (Menidae to Pomacentridae) | publisher = FAO Rome | year = 2001 | chapter = CHEILODACTYLIDAE | author = J.E. Randall | page = 3329 | url = http://www.fao.org/3/y0770e/y0770e54.pdf}}</ref> [[Genetics|Genetic]] and [[Morphology (biology)|morphological]] analyses now strongly suggest that the traditional classification of ''Cheilodactylus'' is incorrect and that the inclusion of the species other than the two southern African species in ''Cheilodactylus'', ''[[Redfingers|C. fasciatus]]'' and ''[[Barred fingerfin|C. pixi]]'', make the genus ''Cheilodactylus'' ''[[sensu lato]]'' [[paraphyletic]] and that all the other “morwongs” were closer to the [[Latridae]].<ref name = Ludt2019>{{cite journal | author1 = Ludt, W.B. | author2 = Burridge, C.P. | author3 = Chakrabarty, P. | name-list-style = amp | year = 2019 | title = A taxonomic revision of Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Centrarchiformes: Cirrhitoidei) using morphological and genomic characters | journal = Zootaxa | volume = 585 | issue = 1 | page = 121 | doi = 10.11646/zootaxa.4585.1.7| pmid = 31716185 | s2cid = 145985739 }}</ref> In these analyses the Red Morwong and the [[painted moki]] (''C. (M.) ephippium'') were  found to be sister species and were placed within the clade ''[[Morwong (genus)|Morwong]]''.<ref name = Burridge2000>{{cite journal | author1 = C. P. Burridge | author2 = R.W.G. White | name-list-style = and | year = 2000 | title = Molecular phylogeny of the antitropical subgenus Goniistius (Perciformes: Cheilodactylidae: Cheilodactylus): evidence for multiple transequatorial divergences and non-monophyly | journal = Biological Journal of the Linnean Society | volume = 70 | issue = 3 | pages = 435–458 | doi = 10.1006/bijl.1999.0413}}</ref><ref name = Burridge2004>{{cite journal | author1 = Christopher P. Burridge | author2 = Adam J. Smolenski | name-list-style = and | year = 2004 | title = Molecular phylogeny of the Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Perciformes: Cirrhitoidea) with notes on taxonomy and biogeography | journal = Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution | volume =30 | issue = 1 | pages = 118–127 | doi = 10.1016/S1055-7903(03)00157-X| pmid = 15022763 }}</ref>

==Description==
[[File:CheilodactylusFuscusjuvRLS.jpg|thumb|left|A juvenile Red Morwong, ''Morwong fuscus'', at Red Rock Estuary, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales]]
The red morwong has a relatively short and deep and compressed body, its depth being 39-45% of its [[standard length]]. It has a moderately sized head and a steeply sloped back. There are two pairs of bony protuberances in the adults, a pair on tip of snout immediately above upper lip and a second pair to the front of eyes. It has quite small eyes and a small mouth which does not extend as far back as the eyes. The lips are thick and fleshy and there is a wide band  small, pointed tee at the front of each jaw, tapering to a single row at the sides. The low [[dorsal fin]] is continuous with long base, originating above the rear margin of the preoperculum. It contains 17 spines and 30-34 soft rays. There only a slight notch between spiny and soft rayed parts, The soft rayed part is uniform in height, the soft rays being a little taller than the rearmost spine. The [[anal fin]] is triangular in shape with a short base and its centre is underneath the soft rayed part of the dorsal fin. The anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The [[caudal fin]] is forked, both lobes having rounded tips. The [[pectoral fin]] is of moderate size, the upper rays are branched while the lower rays simple and robust,  the highest 2-3of the  simple rays are extended and extend to just past the origin of anal fin. The [[pelvic fin]]s are small, and are placed noticeably lower and to the rear of the origin of the pectoral-fin.<ref name = FofA>{{cite web | url = https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2416#summary | author = Bray, D.J. | year = 2021 | title = ''Morwong fuscus'' | work = Fishes of Australia | access-date = 3 August 2021 | publisher = Museums Victoria}}</ref> This species attains a maximum [[total length]] of {{cvt|65|cm}}.<ref name = Fishbase/> This fish is reddish-brown dorsally with a light coloured cheek and abdomen. There are white bars in front of and on the shallow [[caudal peduncle]] and on the caudal fin. The eyes have white marking on the space between them and above each eye.<ref name = RLS>{{cite web | url = https://reeflifesurvey.com/species/cheilodactylus-fuscus/ | title = ''Cheilodactylus fuscus'' | access-date = 2 August 2021 | publisher = Reef Life Survey}}</ref>  The pectoral fin bases have dark spots while the fins themselves are pale pink and the other fins are light in colour with pale with wide dark margins and a thin white outer edge. Individuals fade to completely light coloured with around 7 to 8 dark blotches or bars along the middle of the flanks.<ref name = FofA/> The juveniles are pale with clear bands.<ref name = RLS/>

==Distribution and habitat==
The red morwong is found only in the south western Pacific Ocean. In Australia its range extends from [[Bundaberg]] in [[Queensland]] south as far as [[Mallacoota]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], it may even reach as far west in Victoria as [[Cape Conran]]. It is also found at [[Lord Howe Island]] in the [[Tasman Sea]].<ref name = FofA/> In addition it is found in the north est of the [[North Island]] of New Zealand.<ref name = Fishbase/> The adults are typically seen in schools on rocky reefs at depths down to approximately {{cvt|30|m}}. The juveniles can be found on reefs cloaked in algae.<ref name = AM>{{cite web | url = https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/red-morwong-cheilodactylus-fuscus/ | title = Red Morwong, ''Cheilodactylus fuscus'' (Castelnau, 1879) | author = Mark McGrouther | date = 20 April 2021 | access-date = 2 August 2021 | publisher = Australian Museum}}</ref>

==Biology==
The red morwong is wholly carnivorous and it preys on benthic invertebrates such as [[polychaete]]s, [[brachyuran]]s, [[amphipod]]s, [[gastropods]] and [[bivalves]] all year. However, the relative proportions of prey types consumed are very variable from season to season.<ref name = Bell>{{cite journal | author = Johann D. Bell | year = 1979 | title = Observations on the Diet of Red Morwong, ''Cheilodactylus fuscus'' Castelnau (Pisces : Cheilodactylidae) | journal = Marine and Freshwater Research | volume = 30 | issue = 1 | page = 129 | doi = 10.1071/MF9790129}}</ref> They have a patchy distribution within their rock reef habitats with the fishes forming aggregations of 3 to 100 fish. Within these aggregations each fish will have a home range over which it forages, and it will return to that home range if caught and released nearby. The aggregations disperse at night as the individual fishes seek shelter within the reef. Peak activity occurs at dawn and dusk for this [[crepuscular]] species. The aggregations are larger in the non-breeding season.<ref name = LLowry>{{cite journal | author1 = M. B. Lowry | author2 =  I. M. Suthers | name-list-style = amp | year = 1996 | title = Home range, activity and distribution patterns of a temperate rocky-reefish, ''Cheilodactylus fuscus'' | journal = Marine Biology | volume = 132 | issue = 4 | pages = 569–578 | doi = 10.1007/s002270050422 | citeseerx = 10.1.1.712.4500 | s2cid = 40169453 }}</ref> The red morwong shows some sexual dimorphism, with males having larger protuberances on the head compared to females.<ref name = Schroeder>{{cite journal | author1 = A. Schroeder | author2 = M. Lowry | author3 = I. Suthers | year = 1994 | title = Sexual Dimorphism in the Red Morwong, ''Cheilodactylus fuscus'' | journal = Marine and Freshwater Research | volume = 45 | issue = 7 | pages = 1173–1180 | doi = 10.1071/MF9941173}}</ref>

==Fisheries==
Red morwong are taken by spearfishers but they are territorial and slow growing and could be easily overfished.<ref name = usfa>{{cite web | url = http://usfa.org.au/red-morwong/ | title = Morwong, red | access-date = 3 August 2021 | publisher = Underwater Skindivers and Fishermen's Association}}</ref>

As at 2021, the catch limit in New South Wales is five red morwong per person per day, each having minimum length 30&nbsp;cm;<ref>{{cite web |author1=NSW Department of Primary Industries |title=Saltwater bag and size limits |url=https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-rules-and-regs/saltwater-bag-and-size-limits |website=DPI NSW |access-date=16 October 2021 |language=en |date=2020}}</ref> and in Victoria, the limit is a combined total 5 of any "morwong" species,<ref>Including, explicitly [[Banded morwong|banded]] and [[Dusky morwong|dusky]] morwong.</ref> with a minimum length of 23&nbsp;cm.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Victorian Fisheries Authority |title=Morwong (all species) |url=https://vfa.vic.gov.au/recreational-fishing/recreational-fishing-guide/catch-limits-and-closed-seasons/types-of-fish/marine-and-estuarine-scale-fish/morwong-all-species |website=VFA |access-date=16 October 2021 |date=12 May 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, ''Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand'',  (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) {{ISBN|0-00-216987-8}}

==External links==
* [https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/red-morwong-cheilodactylus-fuscus/ Australian Museum]
* [https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/fish-species/species-list/red-morwong New South Wales Department of Primary Industries]
* [https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2416 Fishes of Australia]

{{Taxonbar|from2=Q2105472}}

[[Category:Cheilodactylus|red morwong]]
[[Category:Marine fish of Eastern Australia]]
[[Category:Fish of the North Island]]
[[Category:Fish described in 1879|red morwong]]
[[Category:Taxa named by François-Louis Laporte, comte de Castelnau|red morwong]]