Image source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp
Mudskippers (Family Gobiidae) are strange creatures of the swamp that are found in tropical, subtropical and temperate region with tidal mud flats, including the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Africa. They are fish that do not behave like fish.
During low tide, they “walk” across the mud with the help of their pair of muscular leg-like pectoral fins. They curl their muscular body sideways and then push against the mud to spring forward. At high tide they “climb” up the roots of mangrove plants to rest, with the help of the suckers formed by the fused pelvic fins. Not only this, the Bearded mudskipper (Scartelaos histophorus) can ‘stand’ on its tail (only for a brief moment), in an attempt to impress the females.
Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org
In water, the mudskippers breathe through gills like other fishes do. However, when on land, they breathe by holding water in their mouth and gill chamber, replacing with fresh water when it becomes deoxygenated. They can also breathe through their wet skin. They feed on algae and small animals like worms, crabs and snails.
Sources: telegraph.co.uk, sbwr.org.sg, mangrove.nus.edu.sg, ourplanet.infocentral.state.gov, wildsingapore.com
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