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Type Description

Equulites klunzingeri has a laterally compressed, oblong body, large eyes and a downward pointing, protractile mouth, which can project to the same length as the head and with jaws line with villiform teeth. It has a long dorsal fin, starting above the pelvic fins, which has seven spines, the second of which is very long, and 15-16 soft rays. The anal fin has three spines and 15-16 soft rays. The dorsal and anal fin rays are sheathed in a scaly membrane. The tail is forked and the lateral lines continues on to the caudal peduncle. The skin is covered in small cycloid scales. The upper part of the body is mottled grey marked with pink blotches while the belly is silvery white and there is a black line along either side of the base of the dorsal fin. There is another black line immediately anterior to the eye and the iris is golden. It grows to 11 cm standard length.

Habitat

"Equulites klunzingeri is native to the Red Sea. First recorded in the Mediterranean Sea off Syria in 1931 it has since invaded the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea by migrating through the Suez Canal and now reaches up to the coast of Croatia.

Equulites klunzingeri is a demersal species, inhabiting inshore waters over sandy or muddy substrates."

Reproductive Information

 It spawns in the summer months, the eggs and larvae are planktonic.

Lifecycle

 The females attain sexual maturity at 5.5 cm and the males at 5.8 cm, this equates to an age of about 2–3 years, the normal lifespan is 6 years.

Nutrition Information

It feeds on benthic invertebrates caught with its protruding mouth.

General Impact Information

General Management Information

General Pathway Information

First recorded in the Mediterranean Sea off Syria in 1931 it has since invaded the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea by migrating through the Suez Canal and now reaches up to the coast of Croatia.

Notes

E. klunzeringii, like other members of the family Leiognathidae, uses a bioluminescent organ situated around its oesophagus to camouflage the fish from below by counter-illumination, the bioluminescence is produced by symbiotic bacteria Photobacterium leiognathi.

References