Meuschenia scaber (Forster, 1801)

Taxonomy and Common Names

Meuschenia scaber, commonly called the smooth leatherjacket or velvet leatherjacket, is a filefish belonging to the family Monacanthidae.

Habitat and Depth Range

It occurs on rocky, weedy reef areas at depths up to around 100 meters (330 feet), with an adult length ranging from 25 to 31 centimeters (10 to 12 inches).

Local Common Names in New Zealand

In New Zealand, this is the only commonly found species from this family, so it is often referred to simply as leatherjacket. It also has the Māori language name kōkiri, and the commercial name cream fish.

Geographical Distribution

The full distribution of the species extends from Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia to Sydney in New South Wales, around Tasmania, and throughout the coastal waters surrounding New Zealand.