Nemadactylus macropterus

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Nemadactylus macropterus
Nemadactylus macropterus (Tarakihi).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cheilodactylidae
Genus: Nemadactylus
Species:
N. macropterus
Binomial name
Nemadactylus macropterus
Tarakihi Distribution Map.png
Range (in blue)
Synonyms [1]
  • Cichla macropteraForster, 1801
  • Cheilodactylus macropterus(Forster, 1801)
  • Dactylopagrus macropterus(Forster, 1801)

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.

Contents

Taxonomy

Nemadactylus macropterus was first formally described in 1801 as Cichla macroptera by the German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster with the type locality given as New Zealand. [2] In 1839 Sir John Richardson described a new species Nemadactylus concinnus from Tasmania he created the monotypic genus Nemadactylus for it, N. concinnus was later considered to be a synonym of Forster's C. macroptera, making this species the type species of the genus Nemadactylus as Richardson's N. concinnus. [3] The specific name macropterus means "long-winged", a reference to the very elongated seventh ray of the pectoral fins. [4] 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. [5]

Description

Nemadactylus macropterus has 17 - 18 spines and 25-28 soft rays in its dorsal fin and 3 spines and 14-15 soft rays in its anal fin. It attains a maximum total length of 70 cm (28 in), although 35 cm (14 in) is more typical, and a maximum published weight of 2.9 kg (6.4 lb). [1] This is a large species with an overall silvery colour with a wide black band or crescentic marking which runs from the nape to the base of the pectoral fin. The seventh pectoral fin ray is elongated. [6] The fins are light to dark-greyish without any clear markings. The juveniles are also silvery but have dark bands or blotches on their upper bodies. [7]

Distribution and habitat

Nemadactylus macropterus is definitely found in Australia and New Zealand. In Australia it occurs along the southern coast from Broken Bay, New South Wales to Rottnest Island, Western Australia, its range encompassing Tasmania too. [6] It is widespread in New Zealand, occurring from Cape Reinga to the seas immediately south of the Snares Islands, on the shallower areas on the Chatham Rise and off the Chatham Islands. [7] There are reports of this species from South America and islands in the southern Indian Ocean but it is thought that these may be misidentifications of similar looking congeners. [8] It is found on deep reefs in depths down to 400 m (1,300 ft), although they are known to enter large coastal bays at times. [6]

Biology

Nemadactylus macropterus has a maximum lifespan of approximately 35 years, and maturation is obtained at the age of 3-6 years. [9] They spawn from the periods of February to June. [10] The young N.macropterus are found in high density in the inner and mid shelf, while the adults reside on the outer continental shelf. [11] This species has a diet of benthic invertebrates including polychaetes, crustaceans, molluscs and echinoderms. [6] There are known regular spawning aggregations in New Zealand waters and individuals have been known to migrate up to 500 km (310 mi) from their home range to breed. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheilodactylidae</span> Family of fishes

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red moki</span> Species of fish

The red moki also known as the banded morwong, brown-banded morwong, carp or nanua is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, commonly referred to as morwongs. It is found off southern Australia and the North Island of New Zealand

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porae</span> Species of fish

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. 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.

<i>Chironemus</i> Genus of fishes

Chironemus is a genus of marine ray finned fish, commonly known as kelpfishes, belonging to the family Chironemidae. They are found in the temperate waters of the Southern Pacific Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latridae</span> Family of fishes

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redfingers</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magpie perch</span> Species of fish

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barred fingerfin</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red morwong</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Painted moki</span> Species of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Paul's fingerfin</span> Species of fish

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.

<i>Cheilodactylus</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Chirodactylus</i> Genus of fish

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusky morwong</span> Species of fish

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.

<i>Nemadactylus</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Goniistius</i> Genus of Actinopterygii

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.

<i>Morwong</i> (genus) Genus of fishes

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.

<i>Chirodactylus variegatus</i> Species of fish

Chirodactylus variegatus, the Peruvian morwong or bilagai, 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 southeastern Pacific Ocean off the western coast of South America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirrhitoidea</span>

Cirrhitoidea is a superfamily within the suborder Percoidei of the large order of ray-finned fishes, the Perciformes.

<i>Nemadactylus valenciennesi</i> Species of fish

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.

References

  1. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2021). "Nemadactylus macropterus" in FishBase. June 2021 version.
  2. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Nemadactylus". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  3. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Latridae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  4. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (25 February 2021). "Order Centrarchiformes: Families Centrarchidae, Elassomatidae, Eoplosidae, Sinipercidae, Aplodactylidae, Cheilodactylidae, Chironemidae, Cirrhitidae, Latridae, Percichthydiae, Dichistitidae, Girellidae, Kuhliidae, Kyphosidae, Oplegnathidae, Terapontidae, Microcanthidae, and Scorpididae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  5. Ludt, W.B.; Burridge, C.P. & Chakrabarty, P. (2019). "A taxonomic revision of Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Centrarchiformes: Cirrhitoidei) using morphological and genomic characters". Zootaxa. 585 (1). doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4585.1.7.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Bray, D.J. (2020). "Nemadactylus macropterus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
  7. 1 2 3 McMillan, P.J.; Francis, M.P.; Paul, L.J.; et al. (2011). New Zealand fishes. Volume 1: A field guide to common species caught by bottom and midwater fishing. New Zealand Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report. Vol. 68. p. 237.
  8. Haliwell, Alexander Graham (2019). Population Genetics of New Zealand Nemadactylus macropterus (tarakihi) and Characterisation of their Mitochondrial Genome (Thesis). Victoria University of Wellington.
  9. Smolenski, A. (2003). "Lack of genetic divergence found with microsatellite DNA markers in the tarakihi Nemadactylus macropterus". New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 37 (2): 223–230. doi: 10.1080/00288330.2003.9517160 . hdl: 10536/DRO/DU:30001883 . S2CID   58931847 via Science Citation Index.
  10. Bruce, B. (2001). "Influence of mesoscale oceanographic processes on larval distribution and stock structure in jackass morwong (Nemadactylus macropterus: Cheilodactylidae)". ICES Journal of Marine Science. 58 (5): 1072–1080. doi: 10.1006/jmsc.2001.1099 via Science Citation Index.
  11. Hall, N. (2010). "Life cycle characteristics of the Blue Morwong Nemadactylus valenciennesi, compared with those of other species of Cheilodactylidae". Marine and Freshwater Research. 61 (1): 104–118. doi:10.1071/MF08341 via Science Citation Index.