Maccullochella peelii

(Mitchell, 1838)

Vernacular names
English : Murray river cod
French : Morue de Murray

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Centrarchiformes
Family : Percichthyidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
The species reaches 180 cm in length for a weight up to 113 kg. Forehead nearly concave, large mouth, slight hump on back, fins mostly short and rounded. Coloration cream to grey with dark mottling and dense spotting.

Range and habitat
The species is endemic to south-east Australia and occurs in most of the major catchments in the Murray-Darling basins. Lives in slow-flowing rivers with fairly deep waters, rarely fast-flowing rivers.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species had been declining in the past. It is now protected but there are some concerns about some populations. Exported for aquaculture.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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