Leatherjacket

Appearing somewhat like squashed trunkfish, leatherjackets often have dazzlingly cryptic patterns. Leatherjackets have soft, simple fins with comparatively small pectoral fins and truncated, fan-shaped tail fins and a slender, retractable spine crowns the head. Leatherjackets are generally shallow water fish, inhabiting depths of no more than about 30 metres. Common leatherjacket species in South Australia are: Blackreef Leatherjacket, Bridled Leatherjacket, Fanbelly Leatherjacket, Gunns Leatherjacket, Horseshoe Leatherjacket and Yellowstriped Leatherjacket, which can be found on many reefs, jetties and wrecks.