Brachaluteres jacksonianus

Pygmy leatherjacket
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus, adult, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus, juvenile, Photo: Rick Stuart-Smith
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus, Port Stephens, NSW, Photo: Ian Shaw
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus, adult, Jervis Bay, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus, Narooma, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus, Narooma, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
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Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus
Brachaluteres jacksonianus

Distribution

Temperate Australasia


Description

Small size and rounded shape. It is also unusual in that the dorsal spine lacks a secondary locking spine and can therefore be easily depressed. Southern pygmy leatherjackets are common in all southern states in seagrass and brown algal habitats. At night they often sleep while attached by mouth to seaweed fronds.


Information

Max Size: 10 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 11.5-24.6°C

Depth: 0-25m

Habitat Generalization Index: 5.2

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Frequent (17.8% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Few (2 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney