JACKS
CARANGIDAE
Leatherjacket
Oligoplites saurus
    Ecological Descriptors
Habitat Size (cm) Diet Behaviour Sex 
Pel,  S 30 Pisc, Cru (Cle) Sh F
 
 
Description:
Adults: Spindle-shaped body. Scales small but visible, needle-shaped, embedded in the skin. Back is back blue green with flanks and belly silvery to white, sometimes with yellow or golden highlights. No black spot at base of tail. Straight lateral line, pectoral and
caudal fins yellowish.Dorsal fin has 5 nearly separate spines.The dorsal and anal spines are connected to venomous glands.
Juveniles: Juveniles have incisor-like outer teeth

Ecology
Usually occurs in large inshore schools along sandy beaches and in bays or inlets. Juveniles float at the surface with tail bent and head down. Prey items include fish and crustaceans, whilst juveniles feed on ectoparasites and other fishes' scales. Depths of 5-50m (15-160ft).

Life Cycle:
Spawns in shallow, inshore waters from early spring to midsummer. Larvae have been collected from June through August. Pelagic spawner thats eggs hatch into pelagic larvae.



Leatherjacket
Synonym:
Leatherjack
Sting Jack
Leatherjacket
Leatherjacket
(C) Barbara Crites
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