Ponyfishes

Ponyfishes, slipmouths or slimy fishes are members of the Leiognathidae family. They are found in the Indo-West Pacific and Mediterranean oceans. They are mainly marine with some species that enter freshwater. The ponyfishes are recognized by their compressed and slimy body. Their mouth are small and highly protractile. There is also a pair of lateral elevated bony ridges on top of head between eyes.

Ponyfishes are bottom-living fishes in shallow coastal waters. They feed on copepods and phytoplankton, with large fishes feeding predominantly on benthic invertebrates.

There are 9 genera and about 48 species of Leiognathidae worldwide. Malaysia has about 22 species.

Scientific Name: Eubleekeria jonesi (James, 1971)
English Name: Jones’ Pony Fish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Kekek Mahkota
Main Diagnostic Features: Prominent “brow” jutting out over eyes. A Leiognathus splendens complex. Second spines of dorsal and anal fins are weak. Having a paler dark blotch on dorsal fin.
Size: Maximum standard length about 13.9 cm.

Scientific Name: Eubleekeria kupanensis (Kimura & Peristiwady, 2005)
English Name: Kupang Pony Fish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Kekek Mahkota
Main Diagnostic Features: Prominent “brow” jutting out over eyes. A Leiognathus splendens complex. Second spines of dorsal and anal fins are weak. Dorsolateral body surface widely naked.
Size: Maximum standard length about 8 cm.

Scientific Name: Eubleekeria splendens (Cuvier, 1829)
English Name: Splendid Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Kekek Mahkota
Main Diagnostic Features: Prominent “brow” jutting out over eyes. Second spines of dorsal and anal fins are robust.
Size: Maximum total length about 17 cm, commonly to 15 cm.

Scientific Name: Karalla daura (Cuvier, 1829)
English Name: Goldstripe Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Kekek Jalur
Main Diagnostic Features: A broad yellow band over the lateral line. Dorsal fin spot jet-black.
Size: Maximum total length 14 cm, commonly to 9 cm.

Scientific Name: Leiognathus brevirostris (Valenciennes, 1835)
English Name: Shortnose Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Kekek Muncung Pendek
Size: Maximum total length 13.5 cm, commonly to 11 cm.

Scientific Name: Leiognathus equulus (Forsskål, 1775)
English Name: Common Ponyfish, Greater Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Kekek Gedabang
Size: Maximum total length 24 cm, commonly to 18 cm.

Scientific Name: Leiognathus longispinis (Valenciennes, 1835)
English Name: Longspine Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Kekek Dwifilamen
Main Diagnostic Features: Second dorsal and anal fin spines greatly elongate.
Size: Maximum total length 20 cm, commonly to 13 cm.

Scientific Name: Nuchequula flavaxilla Kimura, Kimura & Ikejima, 2008
English Name: Yellowspotted Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek
Main Diagnostic Features: A distinct yellow semicircular marking just behind pectoral fin base. Preorbital spine, not expanded distally. Elongated second dorsal fin spine, reaching beyond base of fifth soft ray when fin is appressed. Second anal fin spine elongated, extending to the base of fifth soft ray when fin appressed.
Size: Maximum standard length 10.9 cm.

Scientific Name: Nuchequula longicornis Kimura, Kimura & Ikejima, 2008
English Name: Longspine Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek
Main Diagnostic Features: A distinct yellow semicircular marking just behind pectoral fin base. Preorbital spine, expanded distally. Elongated second dorsal fin spine, reaching beyond base of fifth soft ray when fin is appressed. Second anal fin spine not elongated, not extending to the base of fifth soft ray when fin appressed.
Size: Maximum standard length 7.9 cm.

Scientific Name: Nuchequula nuchalis (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845)
English Name: Spotnape Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Kekek Langsat
Main Diagnostic Features: Upper half of body without lines or other markings. Dark blotch on nape with highly reflective silvery areas next to it.
Size: Maximum total length 25 cm.

Scientific Name: Secutor hanedai Mochizuki & Hayashi, 1989
English Name: Haneda’s Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Sekiki
Main Diagnostic Features: Mouth pointing upward when protracted. Body with a series of about 9 columns of dark blotches, spots, and horizontal bars extending to midline of sides.
Size: Maximum total length about 10 cm, commonly to 7 cm.

Scientific Name: Secutor insidiator (Bloch, 1787)
English Name: Pugnose Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Sekiki Muncung
Main Diagnostic Features: Mouth pointing upward when protracted. Back greenish to brownish, with a series of 11 to 15 columns of bars and spots extending to a little below lateral line.
Size: Maximum total length 10.5 cm, commonly to 8 cm.

Scientific Name: Secutor ruconius (Hamilton, 1822)
English Name: Deep Pugnose Ponyfish
Mandarin Name: 格格 (Gégé)
Local Malay Name: Ikan Kikek, Kekek, Sekiki Bulat
Main Diagnostic Features: Mouth pointing upward when protracted. Silvery body with about 10 bluish vertical bars on back extending to a little below lateral line.
Size: Maximum total length almost 10 cm, commonly to 6 cm.