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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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]
They can reach a maximum total length of 11 centimetres (4.33 inches), [6] and feed primarily off of benthic algae. [8]
The 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]
Kirk's blenny | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Blenniiformes |
Family: | Blenniidae |
Genus: | Alticus |
Species: | A. kirkii
|
Binomial name | |
Alticus kirkii (
Günther, 1868)
| |
Synonyms [3] | |
|
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]
They can reach a maximum total length of 11 centimetres (4.33 inches), [6] and feed primarily off of benthic algae. [8]
The 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]