Common Ponyfish, Leiognathus equulus (Forsskal, 1775)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Common Ponyfish, Leiognathus equulus (Forsskal, 1775)

It occurs in the Indo-West Pacific in estuarine and coastal waters. It is also known from muddy river mouths and sometimes ascends into freshwaters.

Identification

The Common Ponyfish is silvery with a brown saddle on the caudal peduncle. It has faint bars on the back and sometimes a dark blotch on the forehead. The anal fin is yellowish.

Like all species in the genus Leiognathus, the Common Ponyfish can extend its mouth into a downward pointing tube.

Size range

The species grows to 25 cm in length.

Distribution

It occurs in the Indo-West Pacific.

In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to southern Queensland.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Common Ponyfish specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Habitat

It occurs in estuarine and coastal waters. It is also known from muddy river mouths and sometimes ascends into freshwaters.

Classification

Species:: equulus
Genus:: Leiognathus
Family:: Leiognathidae
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Gloerfelt-Tarp, T & P.J. Kailola. 1984. Trawled Fishes of southern Indonesia and north-western Australia. Jakarta: Directorate General of Fisheries (Indonesia), German Agency for Technical Cooperation, Australian Development Assistance Bureau. Pp. 406.
Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.

Last Updated: 23 June 2009

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