Beautiful Leatherjacket

Diagnosis: Head relatively acute, with upper profile of snout concave. First dorsal spine armed with small barbs, originating over posterior half of eye. Scales on body small, each armed with 1 strong central spinule capped with a fleshy papilla, giving the skin a coarse feel. Caudal peduncle unarmed. Color pattern consists of 4-5 brown longitudinal body stripes on a white background, 2 of which continue anteriorly on head and posteriorly on upper and lower rays of caudal fin (Re. 35708).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 34; Analsoft rays: 31 - 32; Vertebrae: 20

Found mostly in deep coastal reefs, in sponge areas (Ref. 9002). Young are mainly found with kelp (Ref. 9002).