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Murray Cod
Maccullochella peelii (Mitchell, 1838)
A Murray Cod photographed at Sydney Aquarium. Image: M. McGrouther © Australian Museum. View larger image.
Above and below: A 53 cm long Murray Cod caught by New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, using a boat electrofisher, in March 2005. The fish was caught downstream of Yarrawonga Weir, Murray River, New South Wales. It was released after being measured. Photo: J. Pogonoski © NSW Department of Primary Industries. View larger image.
The Murray Cod is a moderately elongate, deep-bodied fish. It has a concave snout profile, a large mouth and small eyes.
This species is olive to cream or yellowish with a reticulated pattern of green markings on the back and sides. It is white to cream below. The median fins are dusky with white margins. The pelvic fins are white.
The Murray Cod is Australia's largest freshwater fish. It is a prized angling species that can grows to a length of 1.8 m and weight of 113.5 kg. It is more commonly seen up to 70 cm in length and under 10 kg.
This fish is endemic to Australia, occurring in freshwaters of the Murray-Darling River drainage in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. There are also erroneous reports from the Dawson-Fitzroy drainage.
Murray Cod populations have declined dramatically since white settlement of Australia. A commercial fishery between the 1880s and 1930s caused an initial decline. More recently, overfishing, river degradation and human modification of the environment have caused major population declines. Murray Cod are now relatively uncommon in most areas.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
The Murray Cod has also been referred to as Cod, Goodoo, Ponde and Pondi. The last three names are examples of the many Aboriginal names for this species.
Related links
- More information on the Murray Cod.
- Native Fish Australia's Murray Cod page.
- New South Wales Fisheries freshwater fish page.
- View the Australian freshwater fishes list.
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications. Pp. 240.
- Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & M. Allen. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 394.
- Harris, J.H. & S.J. Rowland in McDowall, R.M. 1996. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Reed Books. Pp. 247.
- Merrick, J.R. & G.E. Schmida. 1984. Australian Freshwater Fishes. Biology and Management. John R. Merrick. Pp. 409.
