Equulites aethopos Suzuki & Kimura, 2017
Red Sea elongate ponyfish

Family:  Leiognathidae (Slimys, slipmouths, or ponyfishes), subfamily: Gazzinae
Max. size:  7.2 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: apparently endemic in southern Red Sea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 8-8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-16; Anal spines: 3-3; Anal soft rays: 14-14. This species of the Equulites elongatus group is distinguished by the following set of characters: eye diameter 53-68% postorbital head length; distance from pelvic-fin insertion to center of anus 33-38% of the distance from pelvic-fin insertion to anal-fin origin; scales above lateral line 7-10; tips of neural and hemal spines of fourth preural centrum rather expanding, distal expansion ratios of neural and hemal spines of the fourth preural centrum (DERN+DERH) 4.4-5.3 (Ref. 120651).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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