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Deep pugnose ponyfish (Secutor ruconius) — Leiognathidae

Deep pugnose ponyfish

Secutor ruconius
Family: Leiognathidae

The Deep pugnose ponyfish (Secutor ruconius) is a fish of the family Leiognathidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
8.5 cm
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Large groups
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The deep pugnose ponyfish is a small ponyfish of the family Leiognathidae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to only about 8 cm and has a deep, strongly laterally compressed, silvery body with a highly protrusible mouth that can be extended forward as a tube to suck up prey. Like other ponyfishes it carries luminous bacteria in an organ around the oesophagus, with which it can make its underside glow. It lives in schools in turbid coastal waters and estuaries and feeds on small plankton. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Deep pugnose ponyfish?

The Deep pugnose ponyfish is mainly silver-grey and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Deep pugnose ponyfish live?

The Deep pugnose ponyfish is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Deep pugnose ponyfish get?

The Deep pugnose ponyfish grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Deep pugnose ponyfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Deep pugnose ponyfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Deep pugnose ponyfish edible?

The Deep pugnose ponyfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Dwergponyvis sourced
English name
Deep pugnose ponyfish sourced
Scientific name
Secutor ruconius
Family
Leiognathidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.5 sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Open water sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

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

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely 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 Secutor

More from the family Leiognathidae

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