Eastern freshwater cod

Eastern freshwater cod
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Percichthyidae
Genus: Maccullochella
Species:
M. ikei
Binomial name
Maccullochella ikei
Rowland, 1986

The eastern freshwater cod (Maccullochella ikei), also known as the eastern cod or Clarence River cod, is a large predatory freshwater fish of the genus Maccullochella and the family Percichthyidae, that occur in the coastal Clarence River system of north-eastern New South Wales. Eastern freshwater cod are closely related to the Murray cod of the Murray-Darling River system, and are considered an icon of the Clarence River system.

A long-lived, slow-growing species, eastern freshwater cod are threatened by poaching [i.e. illegal take], habitat degradation, catastrophic natural events such as bushfires, and inbreeding from low genetic diversity. They are currently classified as endangered and protected by law from human exploitation of any kind.

  1. ^ Butler, G. (2019). "Maccullochella ikei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T12573A123378170. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T12573A123378170.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.