Toothbrush Leatherjacket, Acanthaluteres vittiger

Plate 124. Brown's Tooth-brush Leather-jacket, Monacanthus browni (now known as the Toothbrush Leatherjacket (male), Acanthaluteres vittiger) found in Port Phillip Heads

Those species of Monacanthus having a brush like cluster of slender, bristly, elongate spines on each side of hinder part of body and tail are called "Tooth-brush Leather -jackets," from these curious developments being about the size and shape of a course tooth-brush. These filaments are obviously a great prolongation of the minute spines of other parts of the body. This strange character is only fully developed in old males.

Not very uncommon in Bass's Straits. The example on our plate was obtained in blasting the rocks at the Heads.

This species has not been figured of the natural colors before. It is reputed poisonous, but many of my friends have praised it highly as a table fish, and it is certainly quite wholesome.