Kurtus indicus

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Kurtus indicus
male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Kurtiformes
Family: Kurtidae
Genus: Kurtus
Species:
K. indicus
Binomial name
Kurtus indicus
Bloch, 1786

Kurtus indicus, the Indian humphead, is a species of fish in the family Kurtidae native to fresh, brackish, and marine waters of the coastal regions of southern Asia from India to southeast China and Indonesia. It resembles the closely related K. gulliveri, but is far smaller, only reaching a length of 12.6 cm (5 in).[1][2] Although it has been suggested that the male carries the egg cluster on a hook protruding from the forehead (as known from K. gulliveri),[1] available evidence strongly suggests this is not the case in K. indicus: Out of several thousand examined, none carried eggs in this manner and the male's hook is likely also too small.[2] The female lacks the hook entirely.[2] It is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2013). "Kurtus indicus" in FishBase. August 2013 version.
  2. ^ a b c 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.