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Deep pugnose pony (Photopectoralis bindus) — Leiognathidae

Deep pugnose pony

Photopectoralis bindus
Family: Leiognathidae

The Deep pugnose pony (Photopectoralis bindus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Leiognathidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Brackish
Depth
2.0–160.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The orangefin ponyfish is a small silvery fish of the ponyfish family (Leiognathidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 11 cm and has a deep, strongly compressed, shining silver body with a highly protrusible mouth. It lives over mud and sand bottoms of shallow coastal waters and often enters estuaries, where it occurs in schools. As a bottom searcher it feeds on small zooplankton and small benthic invertebrates. Ponyfishes have a light organ around the gullet lit by symbiotic bacteria that casts a glow over the belly. The species is a common bycatch and food fish and is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Deep pugnose pony?

The Deep pugnose pony has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Deep pugnose pony live?

The Deep pugnose pony lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Deep pugnose pony get?

The Deep pugnose pony grows to a maximum of about 11 cm. On average the species is around 8 cm.

Is the Deep pugnose pony dangerous to humans?

No, the Deep pugnose pony is harmless to humans.

Is the Deep pugnose pony edible?

Yes, the Deep pugnose pony is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Oranjevin-ponyvis sourced
English name
Deep pugnose pony verified
Scientific name
Photopectoralis bindus
Family
Leiognathidae
Other names
Orange ponyfish; Orangefin ponyfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11 sourced
Average length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
2.0 verified
Max depth (m)
160.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Schooling inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten sourced
Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Photopectoralis

More from the family Leiognathidae

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