The red moki (Cheilodactylus spectabilis) also known as the banded morwong, brown-banded morwong, carp or nanua is a species of marine ray-finned fish, traditionally regarded as belonging to the family Cheilodactylidae, commonly referred to as morwongs. It is found off southern Australia and the North Island of New Zealand
Taxonomy
The red moki was first formally described in 1872 by Frederick Wollaston Hutton with the type locality given as the Cook Straits in New Zealand. Although traditionally included in the genus Cheilodactylus in family Cheilodactylidae, based on genetic and morphological analyses it belongs in the genus Chirodactylus in family Latridae. The specific name spectabilis means "notable" or "showy", a reference to the obvious bands on this fish.
Description
The red moki is a distinctively marked fish which has a body with an overall silvery to light brown colour with a white on the underside of the head and body. There are 7-8 uniformly spaced, wide, rufous to nearly black bands along the flanks, the first 3 or 4 are angled towards the head, the remaining bands are vertical. The fins have blackish margins, with reddish bases. Rare individuals are plain reddish brown without any banding or with the band being indistinct. The mouth has thick, fleshy lips. The lower pectoral fin rays are relatively short compared to other morwongs. The maximum total length recorded for this species is .
Distribution and habitat
The red moki is restricted to the southwestern Pacific Ocean in Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, where it is more commonly known as the banded morwong, it occurs from Seal Rocks, New South Wales, to Kangaroo Island in South Australia, it is also found around Tasmania and the islands of the Bass Strait. It may occurs as far west in South Australia as the Point Drummond on the western coast of the Eyre Peninsula. In New Zealand it is found from the Three Kings Islands to Foveaux Strait. It reaches its maximum abundance around Tasmania and off the northern part of New Zealand's North Island. This species is found around coastal reefs in shallow waters, especially in areas which are exposed to wave surges, for example reefs lying off exposed rocky headlands. They can be common where there is kelp and other seaweeds and close to caves, crevices and overhangs. The adults inhabit deeper waters than the juveniles. They can be found at depths between .
Biology
The red moki is carnivorous and it feeds on a variety of benthic invertebrates, such as gastropods, bivalves, crustaceans, polychaetes and small sea urchins. The predation on very small sea urchins by red mokis may play a role in controlling the urchin numbers and in preventing the creation of urchin barrens. It is a long lived species and slow growing species with a longevity of up to 90 years old. The banded morwang is highly territorial with complex spawning behaviour and low fecundity. the recruitment of new fish into the population shows wide annual variation.
Utilisation
Fisheries
The red moki is targeted by commercial and recreational fisheries using large mesh gillnets in Tasmania. They are also caught to be sold on the Tasmanian live fish trade in Tasmania and Victoria. They are taken as bycatch in the pots used to catch rock lobsters and these fisher may keep the catch to use as bait. They form a minor proportion of the bycatch in scalefish and shark fisheries managed by the Australian Government. They are also taken regularly by spear fishers across its range, bit it is less frequently landed by recreational rod and line fishermen.