Morwong Whitley

Ludt, William B., Burridge, Christopher P. & Chakrabarty, Prosanta, 2019, A taxonomic revision of Cheilodactylidae and Latridae (Centrarchiformes: Cirrhitoidei) using morphological and genomic characters, Zootaxa 4585 (1), pp. 121-141 : 133-134

Genus Morwong Whitley

( Fig. 8 )

Morwong Whitley, 1957: 65 [Type-species: Cheilodactylus fuscus Castelnau, 1879 by original designation].

Etymology. Gender masculine. Derived from an aboriginal word for fish.

Inclusive species. Morwong fuscus (Castelnau) (type species), M. ephippum (McCulloch & Waite)

Diagnosis. Morwong can be diagnosed by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin elements XVI – XVIII, 30–35; anal-fin elements III, 8–9; lateral-line scales 59–66; pectoral-fin rays 13–14 with ventral 5–6 rays thickened and unbranched. Can be distinguished from Goniistius by a shallower dorsal head profile, and a shorter 4 th dorsal-fin spine, and from Chirodactylus by a higher lateral-line scale count (59–66 in Morwong versus 46–56 in Chirodactylus ) and higher dorsal-fin soft ray count (30–35 in Morwong versus 22–31 in Chirodactylus ). Color generally brown to brownish red.

Habitat and distribution. Occurs off the southeast coast of Australia, the northern island of New Zealand, and islands of the Tasman Sea, to 50m among rocky reef habitats.

Comments. Originally erected by Whitley (1957), Morwong was described as distinct from other members of Cheilodactylus by the number of dorsal-fin elements and lateral line scales, as well as ‘transverse dark bars’ on the body. These diagnostic characters remain largely valid when compared to Cheilodactylidae as recognized herein (restricted to two species in South Africa). Both species of Morwong are largely brown to brownish red, a character only shared with G. rubrolabiatus , but absent from any other members of the family. Kimura et al. (2018) placed these two species within Goniistius , however, they are easily distinguished from other species in Goniistius , and have never been historically included in that subgenus (see Randall 1983).

Material examined. M. ephippium , AMS I20493-001 [n=1, Australia: New South Wales: Broughton Island], AMS I20255-001 [n=1, Australia: New South Wales: Norfolk Island], AMS I27891-026 [n=1, Australia: Tasman Sea: Elizabeth Reef], AMS I24294-001 [n=1, Australia: New South Wales: Montague Island]; M. fuscus , AMS I24982-001 [n=1, Australia: New South Wales: Manly], ANSP 122393 [n=1, Australia: Queensland: Bribie Island ], CAS 20803 [n=1, Australia: New South Wales: Port Jackson ], NMV 54265 [n=1, Australia: New South Wales: Port Jackson ], USNM 59938 [n=1].

Figures

FIGURE 8. Morwong fuscus, ANSP 122393, 168.3mm SL.