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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