False Toothed Ponyfish

Mouth protruding forward, not downward; teeth small, slender, pointed, uniserial on jaws; membrane between jaws and cheeks densely pigmented, with a black line between anteroventral margin of eye and the lower articulation when mouth closed; lateral line incomplete, ending below base of 12th to 16th dorsal fin soft ray; body rather slender, 31-45% SL; posterior limb of maxilla short, 15-23% HL; anteroventral profile of lower jaw straight or slightly convex; no large blotch on nape or below base of dorsal fin spines (Ref. 49864). Silvery upper half with irregular grey-brown blotch and marbling (Ref. 47581).

Dorsal spines (total): 8; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 14; Vertebrae: 24

Inhabits offshore coastal waters (Ref. 47581). Probably treated as by-catch by trawlers (Ref. 47581).