SLIPMOUTH

also called slimy (family Leiognathidae) any of certain fishes (order Perciformes) that are characterized by slimy bodies with small scales. They derive their name from the small but extendable mouth that slips out during feeding. The 3 genera and about 21 species are restricted to salt or brackish waters in the Indo-Pacific region. Slipmouth are small, deep-bodied, compressed fishes that usually attain lengths of less than 15 cm (6 inches). Leiognathus equula, the largest species, reaches 30 cm (12 inches). Slipmouth are abundant in shallow coastal waters and are widely used for food. One species, L. klunzingeri, is one of only two dozen Red Sea fishes known to have traversed the Suez Canal and successfully established populations in the Mediterranean Sea.