Scientific Name
Cheilodactylus francisi

Common Name
Blacktip morwong

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 16 - 17; Dorsal soft rays (total): 31-34; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 8. This species is distinguished by the following characters (paratypes): D XVI,31 (XVI-XVII, 31-34, usually XVII,33); A III, 8; 62 lateral line scales (64-66, usually 64); gill rakers 6+14 (5-6+15-16, often 5+15); body depth 2.83 in SL (2.57-2.76); pelvic fins reaching but not extending past the anus, 5.55 in SL (4.55-5.81); anterior on maxilla and prefrontal have prominent bony knobs; distinct dark diagonal bands, 3 on head, 1 on anterior origin of the dorsal fin to the pelvic fin, 1 behind the 4th dorsal spine to the lower lobe of the caudal fin; upper lobe of caudal fin with black tip (Ref. 76788).

Classification

Classified By

Burridge, 2004

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Morwongs (Cheilodactylidae)

Distribution

Region

Pacific

Distribution

Pacific: Lord Howe Is., Lord Howe Rise, Middleton Reef, and the Kermadec Is.; probably misidentified as C. vittatus from New Caledonia and Norfolk I., based on live photographs, and Elizabeth Reef on visual observations.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

6 m

Depth To - meters

88 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 6 - 88 m (Ref. 76788)

Trophic Level

3.2 s.e. 0.45 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

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

27.4 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated