Student Stuff
Black Reef Leatherjacket
Eubalichthys bucephalus (Whitley, 1931)
The Black Reef Leatherjacket can be recognised by its brown to black body colour and white ring around both eyes. Juveniles are brown or green with spots which fade with growth. This species has a strong, barbed dorsal fin spine above the eyes.
The Black Reef Leatherjacket grows to 40 cm in length. It lives on coastal and offshore reefs in depths of 10 m to at least 250 m. It is often seen in pairs.
This species is recorded from temperate marine waters from Broughton Island, New South Wales to the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, Western Australia. It is not known from Tasmania.
Related links
- Black Reef Leatherjacket fact sheet
- Mosaic Leatherjacket fact sheet
- View the Leatherjackets lis
Further reading
- Hutchins, J.B. in Gomon, M.F, Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Crawford House Press. Pp. 437.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
