Leiognathus Lacepède, 1803
Diagnosis: body oblong, compressed; depth 2.4 and head 3.6 in SL; snout 2.8 in head; eye 2.7 and inter-orbital 2.9-3.1 in head length. Mouth very protractile and, when protracted, directed downwards; protractile part equal to half the length of head or longer. Dorsal fin long, originating above pelvics, with 7 spines, the second the longest, and 15-16 rays; anal finrays III + 15-16; soft dorsal and anal with scaly sheath. Gillrakers 3-4 + 12-14. Scales cycloid. Colour: dorsal part of body mottled grey with pink patches on the sides, belly silvery, black line along each side of dorsal base; black border on lower edge of preorbital, iris golden. Size: to 11 cm SL.
Habitat: in coastal waters. Food: bottom invertebrates. Reproduction: in summer months.
Distribution: in the Mediterranean from Tunisia eastwards. Immigrant from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal.
Species 15; in Clofnam area 1.
Species of this genus in the program:
Leiognathus klunzingeri