Common Slipmouth
Leiognathus equulus · ly-og-NAY-thus eh-KWOO-lus
nocturnalschoolsLeast Concern
EdibleFriendly
Superpower
Has light-producing organs that glow to help it school and hide in the dark.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 14 cm, up to 28 cm
- Depth
- 10–110 m
Habitat
Soft muddy and sandy bottoms in shallow coastal water.
Diet
Small invertebrates and detritus.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 5/10.
How to cook: Fried or dried — the small everyday 'sapsap'.
Fun facts
- Slipmouths can produce light using bacteria in a special gland.
- They get their name from their highly protrusible, slippery mouths.
- Sapsap is a cheap, common fish in Philippine markets.