Find a Fish
Yellow-finned Leatherjacket
Meuschenia trachylepis (Günther, 1870)
A Yellow-finned Leatherjacket at a depth of 8 m, Gordon's Bay, near Clovelly, Sydney, New South Wales, April 1998. View larger image.
A juvenile Yellow-finned Leatherjacket speared at a depth of 15 m in a gutter on the south side of Bass Point, south of Sydney, New South Wales, February 1981. View larger image.
Caudal peduncle spines of a Yellow-finned Leatherjacket caught in Sydney Harbour, May 2001. View larger image.
The Yellow-finned Leatherjacket can be recognised by the the caudal fin pattern and the scribble-like markings on the sides of the body.
It has a strong, barbed dorsal spine above the eye, narrow gill openings above the pectoral fins and usually two pairs of spines on the caudal peduncle.
This species grows to 35 cm in length.
The Yellow-finned Leatherjacket is endemic to Australia. It is usually seen at depths of 10m to 40 m on rocky or kelp-covered reefs from southern Queensland to eastern Victoria.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
View a low resolution movie clip (83k) of this species. Go to the movies page for high and low resolution versions.
Related links
- View the leatherjackets list
- View the Family Monacanthidae list
Further reading
- Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Reed Books. Pp. 544.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Leatherjacket Louse page.
