DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

ZOOGEOGRAPHY

ECOLOGY

BIOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR

VALUE OF FISH RESOURCES

CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT

DANGEROUS MARINE FISHES

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SPECIES INDEX

CHAMORRO NAMES

LEIOGNATHIDAE (PONYFISHES OR SLIPMOUTHS)

Slipmouths are small, carnivorous fishes that occur in schools over shallow, inshore, muddy or sandy bottoms.  Their bodies are greatly compressed and covered with minute scales and a thick layer of mucus; their mouth can be thrust out to grab prey.  An organ near the esophagus contains luminescent bacteria.  They are considered a good foodfish.

Leiognathus equulus (Forsskål)
(Common Slipmouth; Sapsap)
SL: to 22 cm, usually smaller (photo: 15.6 cm SL, Agana, 1 m)

This is perhaps the most common of 2 to 3 species 6f slipmouths known from Guam.  It occurs in schools over muddy-bottomed inner lagoon, estuarine, and brackish waters and feeds on small benthic invertebrates and fishes.

INDO-PACIFIC: Red Sea to Samoa, n. to the Ryukyus, s. to New Caledonia.