Kurtus gulliveri
| Kurtus gulliveri | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Kurtidae |
| Genus: | Kurtus |
| Species: | K. gulliveri |
| Binomial name | |
| Kurtus gulliveri Castelnau, 1878 | |
Kurtus gulliveri, the nurseryfish, is a species of nurseryfish native to fresh and brackish waters in southern New Guinea and northern Australia.[1][2] They can be found in estuaries, mangrove swamps, nipa swamps and slow-flowing rivers with high turbidity. This species can reach a length of 63 cm (25 in),[3] although most are far smaller: In a study of its morphology, 159 specimens were examined and the largest was 33 cm (13 in), while the average was 14 cm (5.5 in).[2] This species is famous for its unusual breeding strategy where the male carries the egg cluster on a hook protruding from the forehead (supraoccipital).[2] Females do not have a hook.[2] It feeds on crustaceans (especially prawn and shrimp), small fish and insect larvae.[4] This species is well regarded as food.[3]
References
- 1 2 Jenkins, A., Kullander, F.F. & Tan, H.H. 2009. Kurtus gulliveri. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 October 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 Berra, T.B. (2003). Nurseryfish, Kurtus gulliveri (Perciformes: Kurtidae), from northern Australia: redescription, distribution, egg mass, and comparison with K. indicus from southeast Asia. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters 14(4): 295-306.
- 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Kurtus gulliveri" in FishBase. August 2013 version.
- ↑ Berra, T.B.; and Wedd, D. (2001). Alimentary canal anatomy and diet of the nurseryfish, Kurtus gulliveri (Perciformes: Kurtidae) from the Northern Territory of Australia. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 17: 21-25.