The Kirk's blenny[4] (Alticus kirkii) is a species of combtooth blenny (family Blenniidae) in the genus Alticus. It was described by A. Günther in 1964, originally as a member of the genus Salarias.[5] It is a tropical blenny which is known from the Red Sea, Mozambique, Réunion, the Persian Gulf, and India, in the Indian Ocean.[6] Kirk's blennies inhabit waters near the shore, and often spend time out of the water. They are able to breathe air when on land.[6] They are oviparous, and form distinct pairs when mating; they also guard their eggs.[7]
| Kirk's blenny | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Blenniiformes |
| Family: | Blenniidae |
| Genus: | Alticus |
| Species: | A. kirkii
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| Binomial name | |
| Alticus kirkii (Günther, 1868)
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| Synonyms[3] | |
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Size
editThey can reach a maximum total length of 11 centimetres (4.33 inches),[6] and feed primarily off of benthic algae.[8]
Etymology
editThe common name and the specific name honour the Scottish doctor, naturalist and explorer John Kirk (1832–1922) who collected the type of this species and gave it to the British Museum (Natural History).[9]
References
edit- ^ Williams, J.T.; Smith-Vaniz, W.F.; Hastings, P.A. (2014). "Alticus kirkii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T46079096A46664349. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T46079096A46664349.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Williams, J.T.; Burt, J.; Allen, G.; Larson, H. (2015). "Alticus kirkii (Persian Gulf assessment)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T46079096A56997214. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Synonyms of Alticus kirkii at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Common names for Alticus kirkii at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Günther, A., 1868 (1 June) [ref. 1993] Additions to the ichthyological fauna of Zanzibar. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 4) v. 1 (no. 6): 457–459.
- ^ a b c Alticus kirkii at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Reproduction of Alticus kirkii at www.fishbase.org.
- ^ Food items reported for Alticus kirkii
- ^ Christopher Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (26 October 2018). "Order BLENNIIFORMES: Family BLENNIIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
External links
edit- Alticus kirkii at WoRMS
- Alticus kirkii at ITIS
- Skin Characteristics and Organization of the Air-breathing Fish, Alticus kirkii (Gnther, 1868) along Different Body Regions Ahmed S.A. Harabawy; Imam A.A. Mekkawy, 2011. Journal of Biological Sciences ISSN 1727-3048
- Alticus kirkii at www.fishwise.co.za.
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