Prickly Leatherjacket, also known as Tasselled Leather-jacket, is a bottom-dwelling sea fish from the Monacanthidae family.
This fish belongs to its own unique group called Chaetodermis. Sometimes it’s sold in the marine aquarium trade.
People often find this fish in coastal reef areas with weeds and fishing grounds.
Its meat is tasty and safe for people to eat. However, you need to be cautious while keeping it in a coral reef tank.
Prickly Leatherjacket Interesting Facts
- Prickly Leatherjacket is a tropical fish found in the Indo-West Pacific region, from the Indo-Malayan area to Australia and up to Japan.
- The fish inhabits marine environments near reefs at depths of 2 to 25 meters (6 to 82 feet).
- Unique features include mottled brown color, wavy horizontal lines on its sides, and branched skin flaps on its first dorsal spine.
- Prickly Leatherjacket has a maximum length of 12.2 inches (31.0 centimeters) and is sold in the marine aquarium trade. However, caution should be exercised when keeping it in a coral reef tank.
Prickly Leatherjacket Habitat
Prickly Leatherjacket, scientifically known as Chaetodermis penicilligerus, is a marine fish found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
Its habitat stretches from the Indo-Malayan area to Australia and extends north to Japan.
This tropical fish lives in marine environments near reefs and is found at depths of 2 to 25 meters (approximately 6 to 82 feet).
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Prickly Leatherjacket Physical Characteristics
Size: 12.2 inches (31.0 centimeters)
Prickly Leatherjacket grows up to 12.2 inches (31.0 centimeters) long. It has 2 dorsal spines and 25 to 26 soft rays on its dorsal fin, as well as 23 to 24 soft rays on its anal fin.
Prickly Leatherjacket has a unique appearance with a mottled brown color, wavy horizontal lines on its sides, and the first dorsal spine starting slightly behind the eye.
Its snout has a concave shape both at the top and bottom. The body depth at the start of the anal fin is about 1.4 times its standard length (SL).
Prickly Leatherjacket also features blunt and pointed barbs along with branched skin flaps on its first dorsal spine.
Many large, densely branched skin flaps surround the head and body’s top and bottom edges.
Its pectoral fins are small and fan-shaped, while its caudal fin is more or less rounded in shape.
Prickly Leatherjacket Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Monacanthidae |
| Genus: | Chaetodermis |
| Scientific Name: | Chaetodermis penicilligerus |
| Also Known As: | Prickly Leatherjacket, Tasselled Leather-jacket |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |