Macullochella peelii peelii (Mitchell 1838)
Murray cod

PERCICHTHYIDAE, Freshwater cods and perches


Size

To 1.8m and 113kg, or 6ft and 250lb. Australia's largest freshwater fish.

Introduced Distribution & Abundance

Murray cod were first introduced into the Cooper Creek System by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries in 1989 and 1990. Specimens have been captured, although it is unknown if they will establish a self maintaining population. They have also been stocked in Clayton Bore which leads towards Lake Eyre (Unmack unpub. data). It has probably been introduced elsewhere, as it is a popular angling/eating fish, and fingerlings are readily available. There is also little monitoring on where fish hatcheries send fish to, even though it is illegal to translocate species outside their natural ranges.

Native Distribution

The Murray-Darling Drainage Basin in south-eastern Australia.

Threats to other Species

The primary threat is predation as they are ambush predators with very large mouths which can readily devour quite large fish.

Important References

Merrick, J. R. & Schmida, G. E. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes: Biology and Management. Griffith Press Ltd. 409pp.

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The Australian desert fishes pages are compiled and maintained by Peter J. Unmack
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This file was last modified:  18 March 2003