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Oblong ponyfish (Nuchequula gerreoides) — Leiognathidae

Oblong ponyfish

Nuchequula gerreoides
Family: Leiognathidae

The Oblong ponyfish (Nuchequula gerreoides) is a brackish-water fish of the family Leiognathidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
12.5 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
10.0–30.0 m
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Asia: Australia, Bahrain, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei and others

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Description

The oblong ponyfish is a ponyfish (Leiognathidae) from shallow coastal and estuarine water of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed, bright-silvery body with a far-protrusible, tube-like mouth and fine markings on the back. As a schooling fish it swims over sand and mud bottoms and sucks up small crustaceans, worms and zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Oblong ponyfish?

The Oblong ponyfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Oblong ponyfish live?

The Oblong ponyfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. Asia: Australia, Bahrain, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei and others

How big does the Oblong ponyfish get?

The Oblong ponyfish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Oblong ponyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Oblong ponyfish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Oblong ponyfish (Nuchequula gerreoides) — Leiognathidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) H.T.Cheng, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Oblong ponyfish (Nuchequula gerreoides) — Leiognathidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Jordan H, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Oblong ponyfish (Nuchequula gerreoides) — Leiognathidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) ayegege, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Oblong ponyfish (Nuchequula gerreoides) — Leiognathidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Jiayuan Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Oblong ponyfish sourced
Scientific name
Nuchequula gerreoides
Family
Leiognathidae
Other names
Decorated ponyfish; Hump-nosed pony-fish; Ornate ponyfish; Black-neck pony-fish; Ponyfish; Shortnose ponyfish; Slipmouth; Yellowfinned ponyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Asia: Australia, Bahrain, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan/Ch Taipei and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Nuchequula

More from the family Leiognathidae

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