LEIOGNATHIDAE


Leiognathus equulus, 9.9 cm SL
(photo by Seishi Kimura)


Leiognathus equulus
(Forsskål, 1775)
Common Ponyfish

D VII-VIII, 16-17 (usually VIII, 16); A III, 13-14 (usually III, 14); P1 19-22; LL 54-68; GR 4-7 + 13-18 = 19-24; V 10+14.

Body extremely deep, compressed, hump-back shaped. Mouth protruding downwards, with small slender teeth on both jaws; profile of lower jaw strongly concave; supraorbital ridge serrated. Second dorsal- and anal-fin spines slightly elongated, but not filamentous; retrorse spines of dorsal and anal-fin pterygiophores strong and exposed. Cheek, breast, and belly completely naked. Color: body bluegrayish silver dorsally, brilliant silverywhite ventrally; dorsolateral body with 17-22 narrow dark vertical lines. Size: maximum length about 30 cm. Distribution: widely distributed in tropical Indo-Pacific. Remarks: inhabits shallow coastal areas, usually entering into estuaries.