Tarakihi (Nemadactylus macropterus) fish species and information / pictures of Tarakihi - Nemadactylus macropterus

Tarakihi (Nemadactylus macropterus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Nemadactylus macropterus

Common Name
Tarakihi

Biology
Adults demersal on the continental shelf and upper slope (Ref. 9563) to depths of 450 m (Ref. 33616). Juveniles tend to live near shallow reefs (Ref. 6390). Postlarvae inhabit offshore waters and are found in surface waters at night (Ref. 9072). Average weight is 1800 g. Feed on polychaete worms, crustaceans, mollusks and echinoderms (Ref. 28626). Flesh is quite good eating. Often sold as tiki fillets.

Classification

Classified By
Forster, 1801
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Perch-like fish (Perciformes)
Family
Morwongs (Cheilodactylidae)

Distribution

Region
Indo-Pacific
Distribution
Indo-Pacific: St. Paul and Amsterdam islands in the Indian Ocean, southern Australia, including Tasmania, and New Zealand. Southwest Atlantic: southern South America.
Range
38°N - 45°S

Environment

Climate
Subtropical
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
22 m
Depth To - meters
450 m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 22 - 450 m (Ref. 58489), usually 100 - 250 m (Ref. 3243)
Trophic Level
3.41 s.e. 0.42 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
True
Occurs in Brackish water
False
Occurs in Fresh Water
False
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
70.0 cm
Common Length
35.0 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Vulnerability
Moderate to high vulnerability (50 of 100)
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.1-0.28; tm=3-6; Fec=100,000; tmax=50)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Not Evaluated