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Blue Morwong
Nemadactylus douglasii (Hector, 1875)
A Blue Morwong at a depth of 20 m, Shark Point, New South Wales, September 1997. Photo © Á. Lumnitzer.
A Blue Morwong at a depth of 19 m, "Hole in the Wall", off northern beaches, Sydney, New South Wales, December 2001. Photo © E. Schlögl. View larger image.
A Blue Morwong at a depth of 27 m, Wreck of the Valiant, outside Broken Bay, New South Wales, December 2001. Photo © E. Schlögl. View larger image.
The Blue Morwong can be recognised by its colour and pectoral fin shape. The fish is silvery blue, with the upper surface sometimes tinted yellow or brown. The median fins are blue.
The pectoral fin is an unusual shape. The lower five rays are thickened and elongated. The upper part of the fin is triangular with the upper rays the longest.
During the day Blue Morwongs are sometimes seen propped up off the bottom on their long pectoral fin rays. They have been seen using the elongate pectoral fin rays to flick settling parasites off the body.
This species grows to 81 cm in length.
It is usually seen by divers over sand near rocky reefs. It also schools in commercial quantities at depths around 100m. It is a good eating species that is often caught on hook and line.
The Blue Morwong is recorded from southern Queensland to Tasmania and also from New Zealand.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
Further reading
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life; the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
- Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F, Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
