Teleostei (teleosts) >
Kurtiformes (Nurseryfishes, cardinalfishes.) >
Kurtidae (Nurseryfishes)
Etymology: Kurtus: Kyrtos, -e, -on = curved, with a hump (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Castelnau.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic. Tropical; 20°C - 28°C (Ref. 2059); 2°S - 19°S
Asia and Oceania: central southern New Guinea and northern Australia.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 63.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2158)
Adults inhabit mangrove-nipa swamps, brackish estuaries and slow-flowing turbid rivers. Feed on small fishes, shrimps and crayfish. The male carries the eggs around like a bunch of grapes attached to a hook on the head, called forehead brooding (Ref. 36739, 44894). Esteemed table fish (Ref. 2158).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Males carry eggs in clusters or balls attached to a hook on the head, known as 'forehead brooding'. This may be an adaptation to environments with low oxygen and high turbidity (Ref. 36739).
Allen, G.R., 1991. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of New Guinea. Publication, no. 9. 268 p. Christensen Research Institute, Madang, Papua New Guinea. (Ref. 2847)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of potential interest; gamefish: yes
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01380 (0.00575 - 0.03313), b=3.01 (2.79 - 3.23), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.63 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=1-2;).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate to high vulnerability (45 of 100).