About Dactylophora nigricans (Richardson, 1850)
Dusky morwong (Dactylophora nigricans) vary in appearance across their life stages. Adults are greyish to brownish grey on the upper body, and whitish on their ventral side. Subadults have a silvery base color, with lines of orangish spots along the flanks and dark spots on the dorsal and caudal fins. Juveniles have deeper bodies, which are silvery with dark bands on the upper flanks that extend upwards onto the dorsal fin. This is a large fish species, reaching a maximum total length of 120 cm (47 in).
The dusky morwong is endemic to southern Australia. Its range extends from the Houtman Abrolhos in Western Australia to the Clarence River in New South Wales, and it is also found around Tasmania. These fish live at depths between 1 and 30 m (3 ft 3 in to 98 ft 5 in), and can be found on rocky reefs, in seagrass beds, or over soft sediments. Larval dusky morwong prefer seagrass beds.
