Chinaman Leatherjacket

Ocean jackets vary in color, from whitish, pale yellowish brown, pale greyish brown, or reddish. Often, these fish have four, brown, longitudinal stripes on its side. They are highly compressed laterally. The fins are yellowish, though the membranes of the caudal fin are "dusky". As a filefish, the ocean jacket possesses two dorsal spines, with one of them notably enlarged. Behind it is the second dorsal fin which bears 30-36 soft rays. The anal fin has 30-34 soft rays. The pelvic fins are described as "rudimentary". Adult female and juvenile ocean jackets are pale yellowish brown with orange-yellow fins. In contrast, males are greenish-grey to steel blue, with some having two, three, or more dark blotches on their sides, and have bright yellow fins. Juveniles have more distinct stripes than the adults. The species commonly reaches 40 cm (16 in) and 0.8–1.5 kg (1.8–3.3 lb), though reaches 1 m (3.3 ft) and 3.5 kg (7.7 lb).

Nelusetta ayraud is native to the Eastern Indian Ocean, and sometimes considered endemic to Southern Australia, from New South Wales to Western Australia. One record is known from New Zealand.