Mudskipper
Mudskipper
Periophthalmus
UncommonGobiidaeHarmless
ID points
- Two eyes bulge from the top of the head and swivel independently
- Props itself on its pectoral fins to crawl and even hop across the mud
- Out of water it breathes through its skin and the moist lining of its mouth
Basics
- Family
- Gobiidae
- Length
- 10–25 cm
- Depth
- 0-1 m
- Regions
- Estuary & freshwater
- Distribution
- Tropical mangrove mudflats and the intertidal zone
- Habitat
- Mangrove mudflats and intertidal zone
- Diet
- Insects, small crustaceans
Easily confused with
Signal GobyEach of the two dorsal fins carries a large eyespot, together like a face
GobyThe two pelvic fins are fused into a single sucker
Yellow Watchman GobyBright yellow all over, scattered with small pale blue spotsFun fact
The Mudskipper walks across the mudflats propped up on its strong pectoral fins, breathes air through its skin and the lining of its mouth, and can stay out on land for hours at a time.