Animal Species:Barred Leatherjacket, Cantherhines dumerilii (Hollard, 1854)
The Barred Leatherjacket is a tropical species that occasionally drifts into temperate waters during its larval stage.
Standard Common Name
Dumeril’s Leatherjacket, Whitespotted Filefish, Yelloweye Leatherjacket
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.
The species grows to about 40 cm.
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 by collection data
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- 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.
- 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.
Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology