Red Morwong (species: Cheilodactylus fuscus) in Sydney Marine Life (Gaia Guide)
Sydney Marine Life > Actinopterygii > Perciformes > Cheilodactylus fuscus (gallery)
Cheilodactylus fuscus
Red Morwong


©John Turnbull: Red Morwong (Cheilodactylus fuscus)

©Richard Ling: Juvenile Red Morwong (Cheilodactylus fuscus) at Fairy Bower, Manly.

©Richard Ling: Juvenile Red Morwong (Cheilodactylus fuscus) at Fairy Bower, Manly.

show or add records

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Perciformes
Family Cheilodactylidae
Genus Cheilodactylus
Species Cheilodactylus fuscus

Show in taxonomy
Show field guides

Colours

                   

Distinguishing features

Distinguished from the Banded Morwong by the presence of horns above the eyes. Male Red Morwong have longer horns and smaller eye diameter than females.

Size

  • Up to 65 cm (Total Length)

Depth range

  • From 0 m to 30 m

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Comments

Very abundant and common around Sydney. Often targeted by spearfishers, although not the tastiest fish it is very easy to spear. Good steamed in Asian flavours. Spearfishing has been implicated in reductions of local stocks due to the vulnerability of this species to spearfishing.

by Damon Bolton

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Distribution and habitat preferences

Adults found on exposed rocky reefs down to about 30 m; juveniles on coastal reefs, amongst algae (from Fishbase)

Web resources