Shortjaw Leatherjack

Body strongly compressed and elongate (depth from 4.5 to 5.4 times in standard length); posterior end of upper jaw reaching middle of eye; upper jaw teeth small and villiform; lower branch of first gill arch with 19 to 22 gill rakers; scales small but visible, needle-shaped, embedded in the skin; back dark gray; belly and flanks silvery or blue gray with yellow highlights; dorsal and anal fins charcoal colored; pelvic fins white; pectoral and caudal fins yellow (Ref. 55763).

Found in littoral waters (Ref. 9283). Tolerates low salinities and may temporarily penetrate estuarine waters (Ref. 9283). Piscivore (Ref. 57615).

Adults are found in littoral waters (Ref. 9283). They tolerate low salinities and may temporarily penetrate estuarine waters (Ref. 9283). The dorsal and anal spines are connected to venomous glands that can cause painful wounds (Ref. 9283). Marketed fresh and salted or dried (Ref. 9283).

fisheries: minor commercial; price category: medium; price reliability: very questionable: based on ex-vessel price for species in this family

The shortjaw leatherjacket (Oligoplites refulgens), also known as the slender leatherjacket, is a marine ray-finned fish from the family Carangidae which is native to the eastern Pacific, where it is found from Mexico to Ecuador. It is a pelagic species found close to shore, to depths of 30 metres (98 ft), which can withstand water of low salinity and which can enter estuaries temporarily. This species was formally described in 1904 by Charles Henry Gilbert & Edwin Chapin Starks from a type locality of Panama City market.