Leatherjacket fish
| Leatherjacket fish | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Carangidae |
| Genus: | Oligoplites |
| Species: | O. saurus |
| Binomial name | |
| Oligoplites saurus (Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801) | |
The leatherjacket fish or leather jack, Oligoplites saurus, is a species of jack in the family Carangidae.[1] Leather jack may also refer to other members of the Carangidae, such as the pilot fish. The largest are about a foot long. Length averages about 3.5 times the depth.
Distribution
The leatherjack fish inhabits shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico and southern Atlantic coast. Also, it is found in Australian waters, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Leather jacket is capable of delivering a painful sting with spines in front of the anal fin.
Feeding
It voraciously devours small fish and shrimp, often in company with larger predatory species.
Eaten
Traditionally, the leather jacket has not been eaten, but recently, with large-scale farming of the fish, it has become common at market. The fish has a mild, oily taste similar to Spanish mackerel or bluefish. It has occasionally been the prey to Blue Swimmer Crab, as juvenile fish in sea grass beds.
References
- ↑ "Oligoplites saurus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 January 2006.
External links