Cheilodactylidae
From Microcosm Aquarium Explorer
[edit] Overview
Sometimes confused with snappers, the homely morwongs are of primary interest to fishermen as edible species for food markets. They are variously known as butterfishes, fingerfins, jackassfishes, and moki.
The morwongs have a long, continuous dorsal fin, and the lower-most pectoral rays are thickened, elongate, and separated from the rest of the fin. They have small mouths, thick lips, and forked tails. The largest morwong attains a maximum length of 1 m (3.3 ft.). All of these are marine fishes, with many of them inhabiting rocky reefs in subtropical and warm temperate seas (a few occur in tropical seas). Most of these fishes feed on small invertebrates.
Morwongs rarely show up in aquarium stores. They are best kept at temperatures lower than the typical tropical marine aquarium.
BioGroup:
Native range:
Taxonomic rank: Family
Common name: MORWONGS
| Total known | Total profiles | |
|---|---|---|
| Subfamilies | 0 | 0 |
| Genera | 5 | 0 |
| Species | 18 | 0 |
Captive care: Provide a very large aquarium with open swimming areas as well as a spacious cave or overhang where they can find shelter.
Feeding: Carnivores. In the wild, they feed heavily on bottom-dwelling invertebrates. Offer a varied diet based on crustacean fare, including brine shrimp, krill, and mysid shrimp.
Notes: Morwongs exhibit an antitropical distibution and do best at lower water temperatures (23˚C [74˚F]).
[edit] Subfamilies
none
[edit] Genera
none
[edit] Species
none
| Biogroup-Organism | Marine Fishes + |
| Common name | MORWONGS + |
| Family taxonomic rank | Family + |
| Native range | Atlantic Ocean +, Indian Ocean +, and Pacific Ocean + |
| Reference | Reef Fishes Volume 1 + |