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] 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).