Nemadactylus | |
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Tarakihi (Nemadactylus macropterus) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Centrarchiformes |
Family: | Cheilodactylidae |
Genus: | Nemadactylus J. Richardson, 1839 |
Type species | |
Nemadactylus concinnus Richardson, 1839 | |
Synonyms [1] | |
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Nemadactylus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. They are found in the South Atlantic, Indian and South Pacific Oceans.
Nemadactylus was first formally described as a genus in 1839 by the Scottish naval surgeon, arctic explorer and naturalist Sir John Richardson when he described Nemadactylus concinnus which he designated the type species of the new genus by monotypy. [1] Nemadactylus concinnus is now considered to be a synonym of Johann Reinhold Forster's Chichla macroptera . [2] The specific name is a compound of nema meaning "thread" and dactylus which means "finger", a reference to the long rays of the pectoral fins of the type species. [3]
The genus has traditionally been assigned to Cheilodactylidae, but a number of papers published in the late 1990s and early 2000s placed Nemadactylus as sister to Latris , suggesting its reassignment to the Latridae. [4] [5] [6] Further genetic and morphological analyses strongly support the placement of Nemadactylus in the family Latridae, alongside almost all of the other species formerly classified in the Cheilodactylidae. Only two Southern African species, Cheilodactylus fasciatus and C. pixi would remain in the revised Cheilodactylidae. [7] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World, however, retains Nemadactylus within the family Cheiloactylidae. [8]
There are currently seven recognized species in this genus: [9]
An eighth undescribed species, informally named the "king tarakihi", is known from the Tasman Sea off New South Wales and New Zealand as well as at Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands, this has been given the placeholder name Nemadactylus sp, as it has not been formally described so no binomial has been applied. This undescribed species differs in morphology from N. macropterus. [10] Studies in New Zealand have confirmed that the "king tarahiki" is genetically separate from N. macropterus and a phylogenetic study found that the undescribed N. sp is a sister taxon to the eastern Pacific N. gayi. [5]
Nemadactylus morwongs are separated from related taxa by having an ova; compressed body with a shallow dorsal profile to the head. There is a continuous dorsal fin with no incision separating the spiny part from the soft rayed part. The dorsal fin has 16-18 spines and 24-31 soft rays, the spines are not elongated. The anal fin has 3 spines and 11-19 soft rays while the pectoral fin has 16-16 rays, one of which is highly elongated, reaching beyond the origin of the anal fin. [7] They vary in total length from 39.5 cm (15.6 in) in N. bergi to 90 cm (35 in) in N. valenciennesi. [9]
Nemadactylus morwongs are found in the temperate regions of the southern hemisphere off southern Africa, the southern Indian Ocean, Australia, New Zealand and southern South America. [9] They are predators of benthic invertebrates. [7]
Nemadactylus morwongs, particularly the larger species, are of some interest to fisheries. For example the tarakihi (N. macropterus) is sought after by both commercial and recreation fisheries in New Zealand. [11]
Cheilodactylidae, commonly called morwongs but also known as butterfish, fingerfins, jackassfish, sea carp, snappers, and moki, is a family of marine ray-finned fish. They are found in subtropical oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. The common name "morwong" is also used as a name for several unrelated fish found in Australian waters, such as the painted sweetlips. The classification of the species within the Cheilodactylidae and the related Latridae is unclear.
The porae, the grey morwong, blue morwong, butterfish, Douglas' morwong, Eastern blue morwong, great perch, queen snapper, rubberlip morwong or silver morwong, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is found around south eastern Australia and the north eastern coast of the North Island of New Zealand at depths of about 10 to 100 metres, on sandy and rocky coasts.
Nemadactylus macropterus, the tarakihi, jackass morwong or deep sea perch, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is found in the south western Pacific Ocean, in Australia and New Zealand. Although there are records from the southern Indian Ocean and southwestern Atlantic, these may be due to misidentifications of similar species.
Aplodactylus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes, commonly known as marblefishes or sea carps. It is the only genus in the monogeneric family, Aplodactylidae. The fishes in this genus are found in the south eastern Indian Ocean and the southern Pacific Ocean.
Latridae commonly called trumpeters, is a family of marine ray-finned fish. They are found in temperate seas in the Southern Hemisphere. The classification of the species within the Latridae and the related Cheilodactylidae is unclear.They are fished commercially and for sport.
The redfingers is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, commonly referred to as morwongs. It is found only off the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, in rock pools and from shallow depths to 120 m, on rocky reef areas. Its length is up to 30 cm.
The magpie perch, magpie morwong or black-striped morwong, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is found off southern Australia and northern New Zealand from shallow depths to 250 m (820 ft).
The barred fingerfin is a species of marine ray-finned fish, belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, commonly referred to as morwongs. It is found only in the southeastern Atlantic and southwestern Indian Oceans off the coasts of South Africa.
The red morwong, also known as the sea carp, is a species of marine ray finned fish traditionally regarded as belonging to the 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. Its length is between 30 and 60 cm.
The painted moki, also known as the painted morwong, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
St. Paul's fingerfin, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is native to the southwestern Indian Ocean and southeastern Atlantic Ocean.
Cheilodactylus is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, known as morwongs, although this name is not unique to this family. They are found in the temperate waters of the southern hemisphere and in the North Pacific Ocean.
Chirodactylus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. They are native to the Atlantic, Indian and eastern Pacific oceans off southern Africa and South America.
The dusky morwong is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is native to the western and southern coastal reefs of Australia. This species is the only known member of its genus.
Latridopsis is a genus of marine ray finned fish belonging to the family Latridae, the trumpeters. They are found in the southwestern Pacific Ocean and the southeastern Indian Ocean.
Goniistius is a subgenus of marine ray-finned fishes, traditionally classified as being within the genus Cheilodactylus and belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, known as morwongs, although this name is not unique to this family and the true taxonomic placement of this taxon requires clarification. They are found in the Pacific Ocean and southeastern Indian Ocean.
Morwong is a genus of marine ray-finned fish traditionally classified as a subgenus within the genus Cheilodactylus and as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae found in oceans off Australia and New Zealand. They were formerly included in the genus Cheilodactylus in family Cheilodactylidae, but based on genetic and morphological analyses they have strongly suggested that the genus Morwong is a valid genus and should be placed in the family Latridae.
Cirrhitoidei is a suborder of ray-finned fishes within the order Centrarchiformes.
The spottedtail morwong is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is found in the northwest Pacific Ocean.
Nemadactylus valenciennesi, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, the members of which are commonly known as morwongs. It is endemic to southern Australia.