The largest freshwater fish found in Australia, Murray Cod is a fierce predator feeding on Yabbies, other fish, frogs, mice and even ducks, tortoises, water dragons and snakes.
Its wild population has been dramatically reduced by changes to its habitat, the introduction of foreign species (such as carp) and excessive commercial and recreational fishing. Since the mid-1990s there has been a ban on commercial fishing and only farmed fish are commercially available. It has olive-yellowish green skin marbled with small brown spots and a creamy white belly.
Its natural habitat is throughout the Murray Darling Basin in south-eastern Australia, including SA, VIC, NSW, ACT and QLD favouring slow flowing, muddy rivers and billabongs where it hides among sunken logs near shaded cover such as large rocks or overhanging vegetation.
It is farmed in NSW, VIC and QLD and is endemic to Australia. Three other members of the genus Maccullochella, Mary River Cod (M. mariensis), Trout Cod (M. macquariensis) and Eastern Freshwater Cod (M. ikei) are sold under the name Murray Cod.