Barred Leatherjacket, Cantherhines dumerilii (Hollard, 1854)

Scientific name: Cantherines dumerilii
Alternative name/s:
Dumeril’s Leatherjacket, Whitespotted Filefish, Yelloweye Leatherjacket
  • Author(s)
    Mark McGrouther, Sascha Schulz
  • Updated
    21/12/20
  • Read time
    2 minutes
Barred Leatherjacket, Cantherhines dumerilii Click to enlarge image
Barred Leatherjacket, Cantherhines dumerilii, caught in May 1982 off Broken Bay, New South Wales (AMS I.23472-001). Juveniles and subadults have white spots and look quite different to the adults. Image: Ken Graham
© Ken Graham/NSWFRI

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Cantherines
    Species
    dumerilii
    Family
    Monacanthidae
    Suborder
    Tetraodontoidei
    Order
    Tetraodontiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to about 40 cm.

Introduction

The Barred Leatherjacket is a tropical species that occasionally drifts into temperate waters during its larval stage.

Identification

Barred Leatherjackets juveniles have white spots on a black-brown body. Adult posses distinctive barring on the rear half of their body, and a bright orange caudal fin.

Distribution

In Australia this species is found in tropical waters from Ningaloo reef in Western Australia, to the Sydney region of New South Wales. Globally it occurs throughout the Indo-Pacific region, from eastern Africa to western Mexico.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201.
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.