Scientific Name
Nemadactylus macropterus

Common Name
Tarakihi

Biology
Adults demersal on the continental shelf and upper slope (Ref. 9563) to depths of 450 m (Ref. 33616). Juveniles tend to live near shallow reefs (Ref. 6390). Postlarvae inhabit offshore waters and are found in surface waters at night (Ref. 9072). Average weight is 1800 g. Feed on polychaete worms, crustaceans, mollusks and echinoderms (Ref. 28626). Flesh is quite good eating. Often sold as tiki fillets.

Classification

Classified By

Forster, 1801

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Morwongs (Cheilodactylidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: St. Paul and Amsterdam islands in the Indian Ocean, southern Australia, including Tasmania, and New Zealand. Southwest Atlantic: southern South America.

Range

38°N - 45°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

22 m

Depth To - meters

450 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 22 - 450 m (Ref. 58489), usually 100 - 250 m (Ref. 3243)

Trophic Level

3.41 s.e. 0.42 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

70.0 cm

Common Length

35.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (50 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.1-0.28; tm=3-6; Fec=100,000; tmax=50)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated