Research on species composition and size of pony fish was carried out from August 2009 to June 2010 at three zone in Kendari Bay, Southeast Sulawesi. Fish collection by experimental gillnets (with different mesh sizes %, 1, 1%, 1%, and 2 inch) and seser (0 1 metre and mesh size 0.04 inch). Ten species of Leiognathidae were collected during research. There was six genera of Leiognathidae namely Gazza (1 species), Leiognathus (4 species), Nuchequula (1 species), Photopectoralis (1 species), Eubleekeria (1 species), and Secutor (2 species). Based on number of fish, N. blochii (39.72%) and E. splendens (33.95%) were dominant species on zone I (39.72%), Secutor indicius on zone II (38.75%), and N. blochii (20.50%) and E. splendens (25.10%) on zone III (25.10%). Based on frequency of occurrence during study, E. splendens was resident species (100%), while Photopectoralis bindus and L. dussumieri were rarely (18.18%). Size range and frequency of fish occurrence indicated that Kendari Bay used as nursery ground for pony fish. AbstrakPenelitian tentang komposisi jenis dan ukuran ikan petek dilakukan sejak Agustus 2009 sampai Juni 2010 pada tiga zona di perairan Teluk Kendari. Koleksi ikan dilakukan dengan jaring insang percobaan (dengan ukuran mata jaring ber-beda %, 1, 1 %, 1 %, dan 2 inci) dan alat seser (0 1 meter dan ukuran mata jaring 0,04 inci). Pada penelitian ini berhasil diinventarisasi 10 jenis Famili Leiognathidae dari enam genera yaitu Gazza (1 jenis), Leiognathus (4 jenis), Nuchequula (1 jenis), Photopectoralis (1 jenis), Eubleekeria (1 jenis), dan Secutor (2 jenis). Berdasarkan jumlah individu ternyata Nuchequula blochii (39,72%) dan E. splendens (33,95%) merupakan jenis dominan pada Zona I, Secutor indicius pada Zona II (38,75%), dan N. blochii (20,50%) dan E. splendens (25,10%) pada Zona III. Frekuensi kehadiran famili Leiognathidae selama penelitian bervariasi, E. splendens merupakan penghuni tetap perairan Teluk Kendari (100%) sedang-kan Photopectoralis bindus dan L. dussumieri merupakan jenis yang jarang ditemukan (18,18%). Sebaran ukuran dan frekuensi kehadiran mengindikasikan bahwa ikan petek menggunakan perairan Teluk Kendari sebagai daerah asuhan dan pembesaran.
                        
                        
                        
                        
                            
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