LEIOGNATHIDAE


Nuchequula blochii, 4.2 cm SL
(from Selangor Malaysia; photo by Seishi Kimura)


Nuchequula blochii
(Valenciennes, 1835)
Shining Ponyfish

D VIII, 16; A III, 14; P1 16-20; LL 50-58; GR 5-6 + 11-15 = 20-23; V 10+14.

Body oblong, somewhat elongate, compressed; dorsal and ventral profiles almost equally convex. Mouth protruding downwards, with small slender teeth on both jaws; ventral profile of lower jaw slightly concave. Cheek naked; breast completely scaled. Second anal fin spine slightly elongated. Color: body brownish silver dorsally, brilliant silvery-white ventrally; a black or dark large blotch on nape; 4 dark broken lines dorsolaterally on body, the third along lateral line; a dark marking on tip of anterior dorsal fin; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins faintly yellowish. Size: maximum length about 8 cm SL. Distribution: Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand. Remarks: found in muddy bottoms of coastal inshore waters. Leiognathus pan is a synonym.