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.
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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. Scales of lateral line, bases of rays of pectoral fins, margins of dorsal and anal fins bright yellow. Size: Maximum total length about 15 cm, commonly to 10 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. Size: Maximum standard length 10.9 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.  |