Splendid ponyfish
📖 Overview
This schooling species inhabits coastal waters. It feeds on fish, crustaceans, foraminiferans, and bivalves . The annotated bibliography of Leiognathidae by Pauly and Wade-Pauly includes 172 references pertaining explicitly to Leiognathus splendens.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16; Anal spines: 3; Anal soft rays: 14; Vertebrae: 24. This species of the Leiognathus splendens complex is distinguished by the following characters: no scales on cheek; anterior dorsolateral body surface almost completely scaled without a semicircular naked area on nape; lower margin of inner preopercular ridge is smooth or weakly serrated (including the neotype); interspace of pelvic keels without scales; second spines of dorsal and anal fins are robust (width of second spines of dorsal and anal fins 0.87-1.6% of SL and 0.76-1.7% of SL, respectively); a jet black blotch on spinous dorsal fin . : short and / or deep; Cross section: compressed.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Splendid ponyfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Splendid ponyfish is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Lipid stored in muscles, liver and intestine decreased during gonadal maturation and following spawning .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; demersal; amphidromous ; depth range 10 - 100 m . Tropical; 30°N - 30°S
🌿 Ecology
fish, crustaceans, foraminiferans, and bivalves (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Splendid ponyfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18.3 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 231 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Splendid ponyfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Black-tipped Pony-fish · Black-tipped Ponyfish · Blacktip Ponyfish · Ponyfish · Splendid ponyfish |
| 🌍CES | plošák zářivý |
| 🇫🇷French | Sap-sap soleil · Sapsap soleil |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Taiwanhiiragi · タイワンヒイラギ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Peixe-pônei-elegante |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Уплощённая сребробрюшка |
| 🌍THA | ปลาแป้นข้างทอง · ปลาแป้นเมือก |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 碗米仔 · 金錢仔 · 黑邊布氏鰏 · 黑邊鰏 |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 41 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Splendid ponyfish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.