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Mudskippers are members of the subfamily Oxudercinae (tribe: Periophthalmini•), within the family Gobiidae (Gobies). While most marine fish live in intertidal habitats, surviving the retreat of the tide by hiding under wet seaweed or by using tide pools, mudskippers are uniquely adapted to a completely amphibious lifestyle.• Mudskippers are found only in tropical and subtropical regions, having a geographical distribution that includes all the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic coast of Africa. Mudskippers are quite active when out of water, feeding and interacting with one another, for example to defend their territories. These amphibious fish display a range of behavioural and physiological adaptations. Compared with normal, fully aquatic gobies, these include: Even when their burrow is submerged, mudskippers maintain an air pocket inside it, which allows them to breathe in conditions of environmental very low oxygen concentration.••• The diverse and widespread genus Periophthalmus is by far the most diverse genus of mudskipper. Seventeen species are currently recognised.• Periophthalmus argentilineatus is one of the most widespread and well known mudskippers. This species can be found in mangrove ecosystems and mudflats of East Africa and Madagascar east through South East Asia to Northern Australia, Southeast China and Southern Japan, up to Samoa and Tonga Islands.• It grows to a length of about 6 in (15 cm) and is a carnivorous opportunist feeder. It feeds on small prey such as small crabs and other arthropods.• Another species, Periophthalmus barbarus, is the only oxudercine goby that inhabits the coastal areas of Western Africa (Murdy, 1989). Both these mudskippers are widely traded as aquarium fish.
Popular Culture A Mudskipper called "Muddy the Mudskipper" appeared in a number of episodes of Ren and Stimpy. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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