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%lat is an unusual, low-lying, compressed fish found in muddy waters in the lower reaches of rivers, estuaries and mangrove areas.
In this case, nature has come up with something very special when it comes to brood care:
Adult males carry bundles of eggs attached to a hook-like projection on their head.
The fertilized eggs are attached to a twisted string of egg membranes and are looped through the end of the male's forehead hook, where they remain until the larvae hatch.
A photo of a male with an egg clutch on its head can be seen here: http://www.bioflux.com.ro/docs/2020.539-552.pdf , page 543.
This method of brood care / development and rearing of the larvae until hatching has several advantages:
In many species, eggs are laid on various substrates such as stones or algae / aquatic plants and the clutches run the risk of being eaten by other fish, even if some species seek to aggressively defend their offspring.
Male cardinalfish protect the fertilized eggs by carrying them in their mouths and only releasing them when the fish larvae hatch. During this time the males do not feed.
None of this is the case with the Australian Kurter, the male fish can quickly swim away from the clutch in case of danger and does not have to starve during the rearing period.
The price for this special form of brood care is a large dent in the forehead area, which initially makes the fish look like an “accident victim”.
Reproduction is reported to take place both in the sea and in fresh water.
Kurtus gulliveri inhabits slow-flowing, turbid waters, often in the brackish lower reaches of large rivers and in coastal mangroves.
Juvenile fish are found in the estuaries and freshwater areas of rivers, at salinity levels
In this case, nature has come up with something very special when it comes to brood care:
Adult males carry bundles of eggs attached to a hook-like projection on their head.
The fertilized eggs are attached to a twisted string of egg membranes and are looped through the end of the male's forehead hook, where they remain until the larvae hatch.
A photo of a male with an egg clutch on its head can be seen here: http://www.bioflux.com.ro/docs/2020.539-552.pdf , page 543.
This method of brood care / development and rearing of the larvae until hatching has several advantages:
In many species, eggs are laid on various substrates such as stones or algae / aquatic plants and the clutches run the risk of being eaten by other fish, even if some species seek to aggressively defend their offspring.
Male cardinalfish protect the fertilized eggs by carrying them in their mouths and only releasing them when the fish larvae hatch. During this time the males do not feed.
None of this is the case with the Australian Kurter, the male fish can quickly swim away from the clutch in case of danger and does not have to starve during the rearing period.
The price for this special form of brood care is a large dent in the forehead area, which initially makes the fish look like an “accident victim”.
Reproduction is reported to take place both in the sea and in fresh water.
Kurtus gulliveri inhabits slow-flowing, turbid waters, often in the brackish lower reaches of large rivers and in coastal mangroves.
Juvenile fish are found in the estuaries and freshwater areas of rivers, at salinity levels
