Maccullochella macquariensis (Trout Cod)

Maccullochella macquariensis (Trout Cod)  

Family: Percichthyidae (Temperate Perch)  

Status: Native. Critically Endangered Victoria, Endangered in NSW, ACT and Commonwealth jurisdictions.  

Size: Grow to 85 cm in length and 16 kg in weight, but more commonly occur up to 50 cm and 1.5 kg.  

Description: Mostly olive in colour but can range from blue-grey to dark brown on the back with a speckled pattern of dark grey to black spots becoming sparse on the head. The underside is generally paler in colour ranging from grey to white. Trout cod are characterised by a protruding upper jaw. They can hybridise with Murray Cod  

Location: Once widespread throughout the southern tributaries of the Murray-Darling river system, the species has undergone a dramatic decline in distribution and abundance over the past century. Only one natural population survived outside the Canberra Nature Map Region. Now several populations have been re-established in Victoria, NSW and the ACT by stocking of captive-bred fingerlings or through translocation. Temperate Perch are generally associated with structural habitats and flowing waterways.