Six-spine Leatherjacket

Yellow-finned Leatherjacket

Black Reef Leatherjacket

Six-spine Leatherjacket

Common Name: Six-spine Leatherjacket
Scientific Name: Meuschenia freycineti
Family: Monacanthidae
Found: NSW, VIC, TAS, SA, WA
Maximum Length: 55 cm

Leatherjackets are characterised by having a completely separate first dorsal spine and eyes set high in a large head. Six-spine Leatherjackets are endemic to Australian temperate waters but vary greatly in colouration from east to west. They are found on coastal and offshore reefs to a depth of 60 metres.

Six-spine Leatherjackets vary in colour and markings between the sexes. In NSW males are typically yellow to green with numerous blue scribbles on the face, along the back and in the area behind the eye. Sometimes eastern males can retain the blue/green colouration of southern specimens with a yellow shine behind the pectoral fin. Females are a duller greeney grey or brown with several dark bands that run horizontally along the length of the body. Both genders have between 5 and 8 short spines on either side of the caudal peduncle, although these can be difficult to see for in water recognition.

Confusing Species: Yellow-finned Leatherjacket

Yellow-finned Leatherjackets are best differentiated by the position of the scribbles. On the Yellow-finned Leatherjacket the scribbles are found mid-laterally on either side and across the back.

Yellow-finned Leatherjacket

Common Name: Yellow-finned Leatherjacket
Scientific Name: Meuschenia trachylepis
Family: Monacanthidae
Found: QLD, NSW, VIC
Maximum Length: 40 cm

Yellow-finned Leatherjackets gain their name due to their tough body texture from their coarse scales. They have a small range that includes all of NSW plus southern Queensland and eastern Victoria.

Yellow-finned Leatherjackets are brown to greeny grey. They have light yellow fins except for the caudal fin, which is a bright orange or yellow with a white edge to the trailing margin. They have bright blue scribbles along their backs and at the base of the anal fin and a duller patch of scribbles on the side. They have 4 small spines on either side of the caudal peduncle.

Confusing Species: Six-spine Leatherjacket

Six-spine Leatherjackets are best differentiated by the position of the scribbles. On the Six-spine Leatherjacket the scribbles are found on the face, behind the eye and across the back. Six-spine Leatherjackets often have a yellow shine mid-laterally on the side in the same position as the scribbles are found on a Yellow-finned Leatherjacket.

Black Reef Leatherjacket

Common Name: Black Reef Leatherjacket
Scientific Name: Eubalichthys bucephalus
Family: Monacanthidae
Found: NSW, VIC and SA, WA
Maximum Length: 40 cm

Black Reef Leatherjackets are found in NSW from the mid-north coast south to the Victorian border. They are also found in southern WA and SA. They can be found in water as shallow as 10 metres although they have been recorded at depths of 250 metres. They will often be seen in pairs.

Black Reef Leatherjackets are a uniform dark brown to black colouration. They have a large yellow eye with a white ring around it.

Confusing Species: None likely