Threadfin Leatherjacket, Paramonacanthus filicauda (Günther, 1880)

Introduction

Thousands of juvenile Threadfin Leatherjackets washed up on New South Wales beaches in May and June 2004. Mass kills of this species have been recorded in New South Wales and Queensland in previous years.

Identification

The Threadfin Leatherjacket is greenish brown above and pale below. It has scattered brown spots on the head and body. There are small brown spots on the caudal fin.The upper two caudal fin rays are often elongate, producing a filament that is slightly shorter than the head length.

Habitat

The species is found in tropical and temperate inshore marine waters in depths between 5 m and 125 m.

Distribution

The species is found in Australia and Papua New Guinea. In Australia it is known from the north-western coast of Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and south to Tasmania.

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.

References

1. 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.
2. Hutchins, J.B. 1977. Descriptions of three new genera and eight new species of monacanthid fishes from Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum. 5(1): 3-58.
3. Sainsbury, K.J., Kailola, P.J., & G.G. Leyland. 1985. Continental Shelf Fishes of northern and north-western Australia. An illustrated Guide. CSIRO Division of Fisheries Research. Pp. 375.
4. Stimson, J. 2005. Archipelago-wide episodic recruitment of the file fish Pervagor spilosoma in the Hawaiian Islands as revealed in long-term records. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 72 (1): 19-31.