Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
Scientific Name: Leiognathus longispinis
English Name: Longspine ponyfish
Creole Name: Sap sap
French Name: Sapsap panache
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (NE)
Description:
Body deeply oval and laterally compressed. Anterior part of dorsal profile strongly arched. Head and breast scaleless. Mouth pointing downward when protracted. Second
dorsal- and anal-fin spines greatly elongate, sometimes reaching to caudal fin.
Colour. Silver fish, brighter ventrally than dorsally. Dorsally exhibits a few faint, unevenly spaced, and horizontally elongate blotches, becoming yellow blotches below
the lateral line. Dorsal and anal fins with some yellow colouring. Underside of pectoral-fin base with minute black dots.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 20 cm TL, commonly to 13 cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Inhabits coastal inshore waters, stays near substrate (depth 15-80 m). Schooling. Feeds on fish, crustaceans, chaetognaths, nematodes, bivalves, and gastropods.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in net fisheries such as the beach seine fishery, where it is a regular and sometimes
abundant component of the catch.
Notes:
References:
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2020). FishBase. Leiognathus longispinis. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/59023 (09/04/20).
Woodland, D.J. et al. (1984). Leiognathidae, FAO. http://www.fao.org/3/y0770e/y0770e04.pdf (09/04/20).
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Leiognathus longispinis, Longspine ponyfish. Seychelles Seatizens. https://seatizens.sc/species/leiognathus-longispinis-valenciennes-1835/ (edited 15/07/22).