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Centre board leatherjacket (Monacanthus chinensis) — Monacanthidae

Centre board leatherjacket

Monacanthus chinensis
Family: Monacanthidae
LC · Least Concern

The Centre board leatherjacket (Monacanthus chinensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Monacanthidae that grows up to 38 cm.

Length
38 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–50.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific; estuaries and coastal and offshore reefs with seaweed and seagrass.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The fan-bellied leatherjacket is a filefish of the family Monacanthidae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 38 cm and has a strongly laterally compressed, brownish mottled body with a rough, leathery skin and an extendable belly flap (the 'fan belly') that it can erect to look larger. It inhabits estuaries and coastal and offshore reefs, often among weed and seagrass. As an omnivore it nibbles algae, seagrass, small invertebrates and growth. Filefishes can lock the first dorsal spine upright against predators. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Centre board leatherjacket?

The Centre board leatherjacket has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern. Fold-out belly flap ('fan belly') to appear larger; rough skin and a lockable dorsal fin spine.

Where does the Centre board leatherjacket live?

The Centre board leatherjacket lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific; estuaries and coastal and offshore reefs with seaweed and seagrass.

How big does the Centre board leatherjacket get?

The Centre board leatherjacket grows to a maximum of about 38 cm.

Is the Centre board leatherjacket dangerous to humans?

No, the Centre board leatherjacket is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Centre board leatherjacket edible?

The Centre board leatherjacket is rarely eaten.

More photos

Centre board leatherjacket (Monacanthus chinensis) — Monacanthidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — This illustration was made by Peter Potrowl. Please credit this with : © Peter Potrowl in the immediate vicinity of the image. A link to my website sitemai.eu would be much appreciated but isn't mandatory. An email to Peter Potrowl would be appreciated too. Do not copy this image illegally by ignoring the terms of the license below, as it is not in the public domain. If you would like special permission to use, license, or purchase the image please contact me Peter Potrowl to negotiate terms. More free pictures in my website. Donations are accepted here and here. (CC BY 3.0)
Centre board leatherjacket (Monacanthus chinensis) — Monacanthidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Hiroya Kidoguchi, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Centre board leatherjacket (Monacanthus chinensis) — Monacanthidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Richard Ling (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Centre board leatherjacket (Monacanthus chinensis) — Monacanthidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Erik Schlögl, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Centre board leatherjacket verified
Scientific name
Monacanthus chinensis
Family
Monacanthidae
Other names
Centreboard leatherjacket; Chinese Filefish; Fan-bellied filefish; Fan-bellied leather jacket; Fan-bellied leatherjacket; Filefish; Fanbelly leatherjacket; Fan-belly leatherjacket; Fantail leatherjacket; Fan-tailed leatherjacket; Leatherjacket verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
38.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
50.0 verified
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific; estuaries and coastal and offshore reefs with seaweed and seagrass. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae, seagrass, small invertebrates and biofilm sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Fold-out belly flap ('fan belly') to appear larger; rough skin and a lockable dorsal fin spine. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Monacanthus

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Monacanthidae
 Slender Fiiefish (Monacanthus tuckeri) — Monacanthidae
Slender Fiiefish
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Fin

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