Home › Actinopterygii › Percichthyidae › Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii)
SPECIES PROFILE
Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii)
Maccullochella
IUCN STATUS
Vulnerable
CONSERVATION STATUS
Vulnerable
CLASS
Actinopterygii
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Murray-Darling Basin, SE Australia, NSW, VIC, SA, QLD
DIET
Carnivorous
HABITAT
Slow-moving rivers, lakes, billabongs with cover like logs
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Actinopterygii
ORDER
Perciformes
FAMILY
Percichthyidae
GENUS
Maccullochella
📋 Description
SIZE
Up to 1.8 meters, typically 50-100 cm; 2-20 kg (historically 113 kg)
COLORATION
Olive-green to yellowish-brown, mottled; creamy-white belly
ADAPTATIONS
Large mouth with sharp teeth, streamlined for ambush
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Slow-moving rivers, lakes, billabongs with cover like logs
DIET
Carnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Murray-Darling Basin, SE Australia, NSW, VIC, SA, QLD
REPRODUCTION
Lays 10,000-90,000 eggs on hard surfaces, males guard 5-13 days
DIET DETAILS
Feeds on fish, crustaceans, frogs, small mammals, birds
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Overfishing, habitat degradation, dams, pollution, introduced species
💡 Interesting Facts
1
River Monarchs: Murray cod, revered as ‘king of the river,’ ambush 5 kg of fish weekly in Murray River’s deep pools, their 1.8-meter bodies hiding in snags. Overfishing has reduced their 100,000 population, with dams blocking 50% of spawning sites, prompting restocking efforts.
2
Long-lived Giants: Living over 70 years in Lake Mulwala, some reach 113 kg, as seen in Murrumbidgee River’s legends, their jaws crushing frogs with 200 psi. Indigenous stories honor their strength, with conservation restoring habitats to protect this iconic species.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Murray River in Victoria near Echuca and Mildura has deep pools and snags for cod sightings
Lake Mulwala in New South Wales near Yarrawonga features submerged trees for cod sightings
Murrumbidgee River in Australian Capital Territory near Wagga Wagga offers slower sections for cod sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
October-March. Spring and summer align with spawning season for cod in rivers.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Hire fishing guides to catch cod in Echuca's deep pools, Yarrawonga's submerged trees, or in Wagga Wagga's deep pools at dawn.
