About Morwong fuscus (Castelnau, 1879)
The red morwong, scientifically named Morwong fuscus (Castelnau, 1879), has a relatively short, deep, laterally compressed body, where body depth makes up 39-45% of its standard length. It has a moderately sized head and a steeply sloped back. Adult red morwongs have two pairs of bony protuberances: one pair sits on the tip of the snout, immediately above the upper lip, and the second pair is located just in front of the eyes. The species has quite small eyes and a small mouth that does not extend back as far as the eyes. Its lips are thick and fleshy, and each jaw has a wide band of small, pointed teeth at the front that tapers to a single row along the sides. The low dorsal fin is continuous with a long base, and it originates above the rear margin of the preoperculum. It contains 17 spines and 30-34 soft rays, with only a slight notch between the spiny and soft-rayed sections. The soft-rayed section is uniform in height, and the soft rays are slightly taller than the rearmost spine. The anal fin is triangular with a short base, and its center sits underneath the soft-rayed portion of the dorsal fin. The anal fin has 3 spines and 8 soft rays. The caudal fin is forked, and both lobes have rounded tips. The pectoral fin is moderately sized: the upper rays are branched, while the lower rays are simple and robust. The highest 2-3 of these simple lower rays are elongated, extending just past the origin of the anal fin. The pelvic fins are small, and are positioned noticeably lower and behind the origin of the pectoral fin. This species reaches a maximum total length of 65 cm (26 in). The red morwong is reddish-brown on its dorsal side, with a light-colored cheek and abdomen. It has white bars in front of, and on, the shallow caudal peduncle, as well as on the caudal fin. There are white markings between the eyes and above each eye. The bases of the pectoral fins have dark spots, and the pectoral fins themselves are pale pink. The other fins are light-colored, with wide dark margins and a thin white outer edge. Some individuals fade to an overall light color, with around 7 to 8 dark blotches or bars along the middle of the flanks. Juveniles are pale with clear bands. The red morwong is found exclusively in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. In Australia, its range extends from Bundaberg, Queensland, south to Mallacoota, Victoria, and may reach as far west in Victoria as Cape Conran. It is also found at Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea, and in the northeastern part of New Zealand's North Island. Adult red morwongs are typically found in schools on rocky reefs at depths down to approximately 30 m (98 ft). Juveniles live on reefs covered in algae.
