LEIOGNATHIDAE Leiognathus fasciatus, 13.3 cm SL (photo by Seishi Kimura) Leiognathus fasciatus (Lacepède, 1803) Striped Ponyfish D VII-VIII, 16-17 (usually VIII, 16); A III, 14-15 (usually 14); P1 19-22; LL 57-68; GR 4-6 + 14-18 = 19-24; V 10+14. Body extremely deep, compressed. Mouth protruding downwards, with small slender teeth on both jaws; profile of lower jaw slightly concave; supraorbital ridge smooth or weakly rugged. Second dorsal fin spine distinctly elongated, filamentous; retrorse spines of dorsal and anal fin pterygiophores strong and exposed. Cheek, breast, and belly completely naked. Color: body blue-grayish silver dorsally, brilliant silvery-white ventrally; dorsolateral body with 10-15 narrow dark vertical lines; usually yellow blotches laterally on body. Size: maximum length about 22 cm SL. Distribution: widely distributed in tropical Indo-Pacific. Remarks: inhabits shallow coastal areas, usually entering into estuaries.