Blacktip morwong (Cheilodactylus francisi)

Scientific name: Cheilodactylus francisi Burridge, 2004

The Blacktip morwong (Cheilodactylus francisi) is a marine fish of the family Cheilodactylidae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 31-34; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters (paratypes): D XVI,31 (XVI-XVII, 31-34, usually XVII,33); A III, 8; 62 lateral line scales (64-66, usually 64); gill rakers 6+14 (5-6+15-16, often 5+15); body depth 2.83 in SL (2.57-2.76); pelvic fins reaching but not extending past the anus, 5.55 in SL (4.55-5.81); anterior on maxilla and prefrontal have prominent bony knobs; distinct dark diagonal bands, 3 on head, 1 on anterior origin of the dorsal fin to the pelvic fin, 1 behind the 4th dorsal spine to the lower lobe of the caudal fin; upper lobe of caudal fin with black tip.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Cheilodactylus francisi
Family
Cheilodactylidae (Morwongs)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
27.4
Depth range
6–88 m (20–289 ft)
Environment
Marine; demersal; depth range 6 - 88 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Pacific: Lord Howe Is., Lord Howe Rise, Middleton Reef, and the Kermadec Is.; probably misidentified as C. vittatus from New Caledonia and Norfolk I., based on live photographs, and Elizabeth Reef on visual observations.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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