Scrawled Leatherjacket, Aluterus scriptus (Osbeck, 1765)
Figured Leather-jacket, Scribbled File-fish, Scribbled Leatherjacket
Click to enlarge image
© Mike Pfeil
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Aluterus
- Species
- scriptus
- Family
- Monacanthidae
- Order
- Tetraodontiformes
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- The species grows to a total length of 1 m. It is the longest Australian leatherjacket species.
Introduction
The Scrawled Leatherjacket is the longest Australian leatherjacket species, growing to 1 m in length. It occurs in tropical marine waters worldwide.
Identification
The Scrawled Leatherjacket has an elongate, compressed body. The long snout has a concave profile, both above and below. The mouth is small and upturned. The caudal fin is large and rounded. The body is yellow, brown or grey, with blue lines, and blue and black spots.
Two species of Aluterus occur in Australian waters. The second is the Unicorn Leatherjacket, Aluterus monoceros.
Habitat
Adults live on coastal reefs in waters 20 m or more in depth. Juveniles, such as that in the images, are pelagic.
Distribution
The Scrawled Leatherjacket is found in tropical marine waters worldwide. In Australia it is recorded from the south-western coast of Western Australia, around the north of the country and south to southern New South Wales.
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.
Feeding and diet
It eats a range of foods including algae, seagrasses, certain soft corals and anemones.
Other behaviours and adaptations
Juveniles often swim in a vertical, head-down position with drifting vegetation, which they presumably mimic.
References
- 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.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557. (as Scrawled Leatherjacket).
