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Barbeled leatherjacket

Anacanthus barbatus

  • Fish
  • IUCN: Least concern
  • Usual depth17–49 m
  • Water temperature19–30 °C
  • Best monthsAugust, September, and October
  • How commonOccasional
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About this species

Anacanthus barbatus, also known as the bearded leatherjacket, is a species of filefish found in the Indo-Pacific. It is found on reefs at depths of from 3 to 8 metres. This species grows to a length of 35 centimetres (14 in) TL. This species is the only known member of its genus. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Anacanthus”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 10 records
  • February: 21 records
  • March: 18 records
  • April: 18 records
  • May: 9 records
  • June: 23 records
  • July: 16 records
  • August: 31 records
  • September: 31 records
  • October: 51 records
  • November: 27 records
  • December: 4 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 17–49 m · Deepest record: 66.5 m

  • 0–10 m: 5 records
  • 10–20 m: 10 records
  • 20–30 m: 32 records
  • 30–40 m: 59 records
  • 40–50 m: 22 records
  • 50–60 m: 11 records
  • 60–70 m: 2 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 19–30 °C

  • 18–20 °C: 1 records
  • 20–22 °C: 2 records
  • 22–24 °C: 46 records
  • 24–26 °C: 19 records
  • 26–28 °C: 174 records
  • 28–30 °C: 37 records

Names and classification

English
Barbeled leatherjacket, Bearded Filefish, Bearded Leatherjacket, beardie, Jumping Leatherjacket, Ribbon Leatherjacket, Tape-fish, Tapefish
Names in 4 more languages
Spanish
Pez Lija Cinta
Japanese
Ukeguchino Hosomionagano Okinahagi, ウケグチノホソミオナガノオキナハギ
Thai
ปลางัวดาบ
Simplified Chinese
剝皮魚, 擬鬚魨

Other scientific names: Psilocephalus barbatus

Similar species

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

  • Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
  • Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
  • Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
  • 362 open-data records from 1830 to 2022.
  • Species data updated October 26, 2026.

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