Aurigequula fasciata (Lacepède, 1803)
Striped ponyfish
photo by Gloerfelt-Tarp, T.

Family:  Leiognathidae (Slimys, slipmouths, or ponyfishes), subfamily: Leiognathinae
Max. size:  21 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine; depth range 20 - 50 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Samoa and Fiji, north to Japan, south to northeastern Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 14-14. Deep bodied and vertical dark bars on upper sides. Long filament on dorsal spine (Ref. 48635). Silvery body. Naked head; with nuchal spine. Protracted mouth pointing downward. Thin scales on breast. 2nd dorsal spine elongated.
Biology:  Found in coastal waters. May also enter semi-enclosed sea areas and estuaries (Ref. 11230). Euryhaline (Ref. 12743). Forms schools (Ref. 30573). Feeds on polychaetes, small crustaceans, and small fish (Ref. 5213).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 July 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.