Equulites Explained

Equulites is a genus of ponyfishes native to the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.^[1] Analysis of mitochondrial DNA published in 2017 has suggested that Equulites elongates is in fact a species group made up of three species Equulites aethopos, Equulites elongates and Equulites popei.^[2]

Species

There are currently 10 recognized species in this genus:^[1]

• Equulites absconditus Chakrabarty & Sparks, 2010
• Equulites aethopos Suzuki & Kimura, 2017 (Red Sea elongated ponyfish)
• Equulites elongatus (Günther, 1874) (Slender ponyfish)
• Equulites klunzingeri (Steindachner, 1898)
• Equulites laterofenestra (Sparks & Chakrabarty, 2007)
• Equulites leuciscus (Günther, 1860) (Whipfin ponyfish)
• Equulites lineolatus (Valenciennes, 1835) (Ornate ponyfish)
• Equulites oblongus (Valenciennes, 1835) (Oblong ponyfish)
• Equulites popei (Whitley, 1932) (Pope's ponyfish)
• Equulites rivulatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1845)

Notes and References

1. Sparks. J.S.. Chakrabarty. P.. 2015. Description of a new genus of ponyfishes (Teleostei: Leiognathidae), with a review of the current generic-level composition of the family. Zootaxa. 3947. 2. 181–190. 10.11646/zootaxa.3947.2.2. 25947728.
2. Hiromu Suzuki . Seishi Kimura . 2017 . Taxonomic revision of the Equulites elongatus (Günther 1874) species group (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) with the description of a new species . 10.1007/s10228-017-0572-9 . Ichthyological Research. 64 . 3 . 339 .