Many land animals enjoy jumping out of the water, Periophthalmus modestus is a fish that enjoys jumping out of it
Mudskippers are amphibious fish, not true amphibians, and able to enjoy much of their day on land, provided that they keep moist – an objective easily achieved in the mudflats and swamps in temperate-to-tropical coasts around the world.
As with many species, there is much discussion regarding their classification. They are often referred to as being part of the goby family (Gobiidae), but they are currently classed as being Gobiiforms, of the family Oxudercidae. In other words, sort of cousins of the gobies that enjoy a bit more of an active life than their close relatives.
There are 23 species of mudskippers, so named for their chosen habitat and their preferred method of movement: they propel themselves, or ‘skip’, using their adapted pectoral fins.
To avoid predators and to regulate their temperature, mudskippers dig burrows in the sand, and certain species such as the Shuttles hoppfish (Periophthalmus modestus, pictured above) go to elaborate lengths to make their nurseries comfortable.
The female lays eggs in the burrow where the male then incubates them for a week. However, as the eggs need to develop in air, where the temperature is higher and more oxygen is available, the father takes big gulps of air from the surface which he then ‘exhales’ into the burrow, until there is sufficient air in the nest for the eggs to develop
When the young mudskippers are ready to hatch into the water, the male removes the air from the burrow using the exact same method, but in reverse!
The mudskipper’s ability to exist out of the water is due to its large gill chambers, in which they are able to trap water from which they continue to absorb oxygen through the lining of their mouths and throats, as well as their gills.
Shuttles hoppfish can spend up to 60 hours out of the water without being harmed; some species of mudskipper may spend up to three-quarters of their lives on land.
More from DIVE’s Miscellany of Marine Curios:
- Marine Curios #8 – Grimothea planipes, or the pelagic or red or tuna crab (or langostilla)
- Marine Curios #7 – Pelagothuria natatrix or pelagic sea cucumber
- Marine Curios #6 – Ambystoma mexicanum, axolotl or Mexican walking fish
- Marine Curios #5 – Mitsukurina owstoni, or goblin shark
- Marine Curios #4 – Glaucus atlanticus, or blue angel/dragon sea slug
