Deveximentum ruconius (Hamilton, 1822)
Deep pugnose ponyfish
Deveximentum ruconius
photo by Allen, G.R.

Family:  Leiognathidae (Slimys, slipmouths, or ponyfishes), subfamily: Gazzinae
Max. size:  8 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 3 - 60 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: tropical Indian Ocean and southeast Asia, north to Taiwan and China, south to northern Australia. Also reported from New Caledonia (Ref. 11889).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 14-14. Description: Body silvery, dorsal with 10 narrow dark or faint vertical bars down to midlateral. Head naked, with nuchal spine; mouth protrusible pointing upward; tip of maxilla reaching to about level of lower margin of eye. Body very deep and compressed, depth max 1.4-1.7 in SL; breast fully scaled. Lateral line ending about middle of soft dorsal fin. (Ref. 2108, 90102)
Biology:  Found in coastal waters. Enters estuaries and rivers (Ref. 30573). Usually over sand or mud bottoms and rarely near reefs (Ref. 90102). Forms schools. Feeds on small crustaceans (Ref. 5213). Marketed fresh or dried and salted (Ref. 12693).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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