Family : Leiognathidae (Slimys, slipmouths, or ponyfishes)
Order : Perciformes  (perch-likes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Common ponyfish
Fish Name : Leiognathus equulus
Max size : 28.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)
Environment : demersal; amphidromous ; depth range 10 - 110 m
Climate : tropical; 26 - 29°C; 30°N - 23°S
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.35-1.88)Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, Persian Gulf and East Africa (including Reunion, Comoros, Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius) to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Australia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 14-15. Deep-bodied with short rounded snout and large eyes (Ref. 48635). Body silvery; caudal peduncle with a small brown saddle; anal fins yellowish; dorsal fin transparent. Strongly arched back. Naked head; with nuchal spine. Protracted mouth pointing downward.
Biology : Found in river mouths and muddy inshore areas (Ref. 2847, 37816), often in mangrove areas (Ref. 48635). Adults are coastal inhabitants found on soft bottoms, usually between depths of 10-70 meters. Juveniles are commonly found in mangrove estuaries and tidal creeks, sometimes entering the lower reaches of freshwater streams (Ref. 44894). Adults move in schools. Frequently ascend into freshwater reaches of rivers (Ref. 12693). Active by day (Ref. 12693). Feed on polychaetes, small crustaceans, small fishes (Ref. 30573) and worms (Ref. 12693). Important food fish in the tropics (Ref. 4376). Marketed fresh or dried (Ref. 12484)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator : Woodland, David J.
Main Ref : James, P.S.B.R.. 1984. (Ref. 3424)

India country information
Common Names : Common ponyfish, മുള്ളന്, சொரக்கநம் காரை, சுருக்கனாம் காரே , சுடுப்புனம்  காரல் , காளீக்காரல் , நாமாகாரல் , காரைபொடீ , ಕುರಿಚಿ , ಗುರುಕು , காரல்  , காரை , కారా , Soorokoo-nam-kare, Tanka-chandee
Status : native
Salinity : brackish, marine
Uses : no uses