Australian Biological Resources Study

Australian Faunal Directory

Kuhliidae

Kuhliidae

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CAAB: 37323000

Family KUHLIIDAE

Flagtails


Compiler and date details

19 December 2011 - Gerald R. Allen, Norbert J. Cross & Douglass F. Hoese

December 2006 - Gerald R. Allen, Norbert J. Cross & Douglass F. Hoese

Introduction

As recognised here the family Kuhliidae contains a single genus and about 15 species. The four Australian species are also widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific.

The flagtails of the genus Kuhlia are mainly tropical marine and estuarine fishes that sometimes penetrate freshwater streams. Species grow to a maximum size of about 50 cm.

Previously, a number of genera were included in this family (Paxton et al. 1989). Munro (1961) assigned them to three separate families: Kuhliidae, Nannopercidae and Nannatherinidae. Some authors have included Nannoperca, Edelia and Nannatherina in a single unit within the Kuhliidae (see Nelson 1976). However, Johnson (1984) recognised the nannopercids (Edelia and Nannoperca) and nannatherinids (Nannatherina) as distinct from kuhliids, placing them in the Percichthyidae. According to Johnson, the latter family is restricted to fresh waters of southern Australia and South America, thus indicative of a possible Gondwanan origin. Randall & Randall (2001) reviewed central Pacific species.

 

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
19-Nov-2012 19-Nov-2012 MODIFIED
12-Feb-2010 (import)