Scientific Name
Meuschenia scaber

Common Name
Velvet leatherjacket

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 32-38; Anal soft rays: 31 - 36. Scales small with numerous tiny spinules, prominent first dorsal spine above eyes (Ref. 9002).

Classification

Classified By

Forster, 1801

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Puffers and Filefishes (Tetraodontiformes)

Family

Filefishes (Monacanthidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-West Pacific

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: New Zealand and Australia (southern Western Australia to New South Wales and Tasmania).

Range

30°S - 48°S, 112°E - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

20 m

Depth To - meters

200 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal; depth range 20 - 200 m (Ref. 9563)

Trophic Level

2.95 s.e. 0.15 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

31.0 cm

Common Length

25.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5039 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (38 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm=2)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated