Cheilodactylidae

Morwongs
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Family:	Cheilodactylidae
Genera
Cheilodactylus Chirodactylus Dactylophora Goniistius Nemadactylus See text for species

Morwongs are perciform fishes comprising the family Cheilodactylidae. Found primarily throughout the Southern Hemisphere, they are also found in the Pacific off Japan, China, and Hawaii. Growing up to 1m in length, they feed on small invertebrates on the ocean floor. Several species of morwong are commercially harvested as food fish, particularly in Australia.

Other names for members of the family include butterfish, fingerfin, jackassfish, and moki. Morwongs are also erroneously known as snappers.

Morwong is also used as a name for several unrelated fish found in Australian waters, such as the Painted Sweetlips (Diagramma pictum).

Genera and species

• Genus Cheilodactylus
  • Redfinger, Cheilodactylus fasciatus
  • Magpie Perch or Magpie Morwong, Cheilodactylus nigripes
  • Barred Fingerfin, Cheilodactylus pixi
  • Cheilodactylus quadricornis
  • Cheilodactylus rubrolabiatus
  • Peruvian Morwong, Cheilodactylus variegatus
• Genus Chirodactylus
  • Twotone Fingerfin, Chirodactylus brachydactylus
  • Bank Steenbras, Chirodactylus grandis
  • Natal Fingerfin, Chirodactylus jessicalenorum
• Genus Dactylophora
  • Dusky Morwong, Dactylophora nigricans
• Genus Goniistius
  • Painted Moki, Goniistius ephippium
  • Red Morwong, Goniistius fuscus
  • Western Crested Morwong, Goniistius gibbosus
  • Plessis's Morwong, Goniistius plessisi
  • Red Moki, Goniistius spectabilis
  • Crested Morwong, Goniistius vestitus
  • Hawaiian Morwong, Goniistius vittatus
  • Redlip Morwong, Goniistius zebra
  • Spottedtail Morwong, Goniistius zonatus
• Genus Nemadactylus
  • Nemadactylus bergi
  • Blue Morwong or Porae, Nemadactylus douglasii
  • Nemadactylus gayi
  • Jackass Morwong or Tarakihi, Nemadactylus macropterus
  • St. Paul's Fingerfin, Nemadactylus monodactylus
  • Sea Carp, or Queen Snapper, Nemadactylus valenciennesi
  • Nemadactylus vemae

External link

• Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2006). "Cheilodactylidae" in FishBase. January 2006 version.