Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii)

Scientific name: Maccullochella peelii Mitchell, 1838

Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii)

The Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) is a freshwater fish of the family Percichthyidae.

Biology

The Murray cod is one of the world's largest freshwater fish. They live in a wide range of habitats, from clear, rocky streams to slow flowing, turbid rivers and billabongs. They are generally found in waters to 5 m deep, in sheltered areas with cover from rocks, timber or overhanging banks. Adult fish are carnivorous, having a diet of invertebrates, fish, amphibians and occasionally reptiles, birds and aquatic mammals. The young feed on zooplankton. Spawning takes place from spring to early summer. Murray cod are territorial, their 'territory' associated with a specific hole, snag (large woody debris) or area of a river or lake. Juveniles may undertake migrations. Threatened due to over harvesting and habitat loss.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Maccullochella peelii
Family
Percichthyidae (Temperate perches)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
180
Common length
60.0
Depth range
5 m (16 ft)
Environment
Freshwater; demersal; potamodromous; depth range ? - 5 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Oceania: throughout most of the Murray-Darling River system of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, except for the upper reaches of the southern tributaries. Introduced into many lakes and dams throughout Victoria and New South Wales. Their abundance has been drastically reduced across their natural range and they are now considered rare in many Victorian tributaries.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Critically Endangered (CR) (C2a)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=3-6; tmax=48)

Sources

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

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