Six-spined leatherjacket
(Meuschenia freycineti)
General data
A common leatherjacket in southern Australia with a highly variable colour pattern. Adults have two to four pairs of curved spines on each side of the tail base, that are larger in males than in females and juveniles. Both males and females have a distinct dark crescent-shaped band near the hind margin of the tail.
Males are bluish with fine blue lines and spots on the head, blue lines along the dorsal and anal-fin bases, and often a large yellow to orange patch, or indistinct yellowy blotches on the sides.
Females and juveniles are pale greenish, yellow or brown, with blue lines and spots on the head and several broad dark stripes along the sides.
Eastern Indian Ocean: southern Australia, from southern Western Australia to New South Wales and Tasmania.
Max length : 60 cm TL
