Reticulated leatherjacket (Stephanolepis diaspros)

Image source: Lucas BERENGER | inaturalist.org

General data

Main name: Reticulated leatherjacket
Climates: Tropical, Subtropical
Habitat: Saltwater
Native: Africa, Asia
Introduced: Europe
Distribution: Aegean Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red sea, Indian ocean, Persian Gulf

Classification

Genus: Stephanolepis - Stephanolepis
Family: Monacanthidae - Filefishes (Leatherjackets)
Order: Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes
Class: Actinopteri - Ray-finned fishes
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes

Reticulated filefish (Stephanolepis diaspros), also known as the reticulated leatherjacket, is a species of bony fish belonging to the family Monacanthidae. It is a ray-finned fish characterized by rough skin and a distinctive dorsal spine typical for filefishes.

The natural range of Stephanolepis diaspros is the western Indian Ocean, but the species has also successfully colonized the Mediterranean Sea. Its presence there is the result of Lessepsian migration, a process in which marine organisms migrate from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal.

Description

Stephanolepis diaspros has a deep, laterally compressed body which becomes rounded on the ventral side. The first dorsal fin consists of a single strong spine with small barbs on the posterior edge. This spine originates immediately above the posterior margin of the eye.

The second dorsal fin is positioned directly above and parallel to the anal fin. In this fin, the second ray is very long and filamentous, especially in males. The species does not have a true pelvic fin; instead, there is only a small flap of skin in that region.

The fish has a pointed snout with a small terminal mouth containing incisor-like teeth. The gill opening is narrow and slit-like, located above the origin of the pelvic area. Its body is covered with rough skin similar to that of a shark, made up of tiny scales each bearing a fragile spinule.

In males, the caudal peduncle shows several rows of horny patches. The body coloration is typically brownish-green or greyish-green with a complex pattern of spots, dark horizontal lines, and sinuous markings. The caudal fin displays two dark bands separated by a pale band, while the dorsal and anal fins are usually yellow to orange.

This species can grow to a maximum length of about 25 cm.

Distribution

Stephanolepis diaspros occurs in the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, waters southward to the Horn of Africa, along the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula, and into the Persian Gulf.

The species was first recorded in the Mediterranean Sea in 1927 off the coast of Palestine. Today it is very common throughout the eastern Mediterranean basin and continues to expand its range, including records from the Adriatic Sea.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Actinistia - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Actinopteri - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
    
    Molidae - Molas->
    
    Balistidae - Triggerfishes->
    
    Tetraodontidae - Puffers->
    
    Ostraciidae - Boxfishes->
    
    Monacanthidae - Filefishes (Leatherjackets)->
    
    Meuschenia - Leatherjackets->
    
    Scobinichthys - Rough leatherjackets->
    
    Cantherhines - Cantherhines->
    
    Aluterus - Aluterus->
    
    Stephanolepis - Stephanolepis->
    
    Thread-sail filefish (Stephanolepis cirrhifer)
    
    Porky (Stephanolepis aurata)
    
    Reticulated leatherjacket (Stephanolepis diaspros)
    
    Planehead filefish (Stephanolepis hispida)
    
    Pygmy filefish (Stephanolepis setifer)
    
    Amanses - Amanses->
    
    Acanthaluteres - Acanthaluteres->
    
    Acreichthys - Acreichthys->
    
    Anacanthus - Anacanthus->
    
    Arotrolepis - Arotrolepis->
    
    Brachaluteres - Brachaluteres->
    
    Cantheschenia - Cantheschenia->
    
    Chaetodermis - Chaetodermis->
    
    Enigmacanthus - Enigmacanthus->
    
    Colurodontis - Colurodontis->
    
    Eubalichthys - Eubalichthys->
    
    Lalmohania - Lalmohania->
    
    Monacanthus - Monacanthus->
    
    Oxymonacanthus - Oxymonacanthus->
    
    Nelusetta - Nelusetta->
    
    Paraluteres - Paraluteres->
    
    Paramonacanthus - Paramonacanthus->
    
    Pervagor - Pervagor->
    
    Pseudalutarius - Pseudalutarius->
    
    Pseudomonacanthus - Pseudomonacanthus->
    
    Rudarius - Rudarius->
    
    Thamnaconus - Thamnaconus->
    
    Diodontidae - Porcupinefish->
    
    Aracanidae - Deepwater boxfishes->
    
    Triacanthidae - Triplespines->
    
    Triacanthodidae - Spikefishes->
    
    Triodontidae - Three-toothed puffer->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipnoi - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons and Paddlefishes->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->

Reticulated leatherjacket (Stephanolepis diaspros)

General data

Classification

Taxonomy of Fishes

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