Relevant synonyms Equuilites elongatus Misidentification None Meristic formula D, VII-IX+15-17; A, III+13-15; P, 14-15; V, I+5; LL, 42-43  photo : Daniel Golani

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body elongated and slightly compressed. Pointed snout. Jaws strongly protractile Upper profile of head straight or slightly concave. The ventral profile of head from mouth tip to below the eye slightly concave. A single continuous dorsal fin, its first spine minute, the second is the largest. The first anal spine small and the 2nd is the largest. Caudal fin deeply forked. Cheek and breast covered with small scales. color : body silver-grey, darker on the back becoming light on the belly. Dark-grey to black irregular spots on the back and flanks. size : common 6-10 cm (max. 12 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Equuilites klunzingeri: body depth less than three times in Standard length (SL). Carangidae: jaws not strongly protractile; two detached anal spines. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Lives in schools or small groups. Feeds on benthic invertebrates, mainly crustaceans, polychaets and to a lesser extent on algae. Eggs and larvae planktonic. habitat : soft substrate in coastal waters but found down to 130 m. .

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Israel, 2011. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-Pacific. Mediterranean : a single specimen was recorded from the vicinity of Tel Aviv, Israel. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare. speculated reasons for success : MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None in the Mediterranean.

KEY REFERENCES Golani D. Fricke R. and Appelbaum-Golani B., 2011. First record of the Indo-Pacific slender ponyfish Equulites elongatus (Günther, 1874) in the Mediterranean (Perciformes: Leiognathidae). Aquatic Invasions, S75-S77. James P.S.B.R. and Woodland D., 1984. Leiognathidae. In: Fischer W. and Bianchi G., FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishing Area 51). Vol. II. FAO, Rome. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: November 2013 ©ciesm 2002