Animal Species:Horseshoe Leatherjacket, Meuschenia hippocrepis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

Adult Horseshoe Leatherjackets can be recognised by the horseshoe-shaped marking on the side of the body. The species occurs from the central coast of Victoria to south-western Western Australia.

Male Horseshoe Leatherjacket

Male Horseshoe Leatherjacket
David Muirhead © David Muirhead

Alternative Name/s

Purple People Eater, Variable Leatherjacket

Identification

Females and juveniles are similar in colouration to males, but lack a dark cheek bar.

Size range

60 cm

Distribution

The species occurs from the central coast of Victoria to south-western Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Meuschenia hippocrepis

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Horseshoe Leatherjacket specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

The species is usually seen in inshore waters, mostly associated with rocky reefs.

Classification

Species:
hippocrepis
Genus:
Meuschenia
Family:
Monacanthidae
Order:
Tetraodontiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928.
  2. 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
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Horseshoe Leatherjacket, Meuschenia hippocrepis, Monacanthidae, green, blue, flatfish, 30 cm - 1 m, blotches, stripes, eye-like spot, rocky reef, marine, horseshoe-shaped marking on body,