Family KURTIDAE

Kurtus

© Copyright Weber 1913

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Introduction

The Kurtidae comprise two species belonging to the single genus Kurtus; one species occurs in northern Australia. Allen (1989) and Allen et al. (2002) provided a diagnosis and colour illustration of the Australian representative, Kurtus gulliveri, and de Beaufort & Chapman (1951) reviewed the family. The Australian species is treated in detail by Berra (2003).

Nurseryfishes are restricted to the waters of southern Asia and the Indo-Australian Archipelago where they are found in fresh water and estuarine habitats, frequently in large turbid rivers. Males are equipped with a bony, hook-like process on the forehead, which is directed forward and downward and functions to carry eggs. The female lays a cluster of eggs, which are attached to a twisted cord and looped through the male's forehead ring. Berra & Neira (2003) described the early life history and Berra & Humphrey (2002) treated anatomy. Maximum size reached is about 60 cm.

General References

Allen, G.R. 1989. Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Neptune, New Jersey : T.F.H. Publications 240 pp., 63 pls.

Allen, G.R., Cross, N.J. & Allen, C.J 2006. Kurtidae. pp. 1714-1715 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp.

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 394 pp.

Berra, T.M. 2003. Nurseryfish, Kurtus gulliveri (Perciformes: Kurtidae), from northern Australia: redescription, distribution, egg mass, and comparison with K. indicus from southeast Asia. Ichthyological Explorations of Freshwater 14(4): 295-306

Berra, T.M. & Humphrey, J.D. 2002. Gross anatomy and histology of the hook and skin of male nurseryfish, Kurtus gulliveri, from northern Australia. Environmental Biology of Fishes 65: 263-270

Berra, T.M. & Neira, F.J. 2003. Early life history of the nurseryfish, Kurtus gulliveri, from northern Australia. Copeia 2003(2): 384-390

de Beaufort, L.F. & Chapman, W.M. 1951. The Fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Percomorphi (concluded), Blennoidea. Leiden : Brill Vol. 9 484 pp. 89 figs.

Weber, M. 1913. Süsswasserfische aus Niederländisch Süd-und-Nord-Neu-Guinea. Nova Guinea (Zoologie) 9(4): 513-613 figs 1-36 pls 12-14 [pl. 13]

Common Name References

Allen, G.R. 2001. Kurtidae. 3610 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 6 pp. 3381-4218. [3610] (Nurseryfishes)

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