Banded Morwong

Cheilodactylus spectabilis

Sea Life Native IUCN: Not Evaluated

About

Their rate of growth is fast in the first 5 years and then slows. Males grow larger than females and mature banded morwong may be as old as 90 years, and has an extremely small home range size (often found associated with a single large boulder), so is extremely vulnerable to over-fishing

Identification

The Largest of the Morwong species the Banded morwong has dark brick red to brown bars on a lighter background, and usually with red or orange around the eye, pectoral fin base and lips. Individuals in deeper water or at night can sometimes 'turn off' some of the bars and appear mostly pale.

Size

They can grow up 70cm and 15kg in weight

Habitat

Banded morwong are normally found around shallow exposed rocky reef areas in depths between 3-50 meters.

Distribution

Banded morwong inhabit exposed rocky headlands and coastal reefs, from Seal Rocks in NSW, throughout Victorian and Tasmanian waters to Robe in South Australia

Local Sightings

1 recorded sighting in and around the area.

References & citations (2)
  1. Bray, D.J. & Gomon, M.F., 2011, Banded Morwong, Cheilodactylus spectabilis, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay (accessed 2021-09-22 14:03:33)
  2. Reef Life Survey (accessed 2021-09-22 14:03:33)

Header image: (CC BY-NC 4.0) © John Turnbull

Disclaimer: A lot of work goes into making sure identifications, descriptions, sizes, habitats and distribution details are as accurate as possible — but this information is ever-changing, so no guarantee is offered that it is correct or currently valid. Treat it as a guide and do a little of your own research for the latest word. Feedback and corrections are always welcome.