Critter Intros: Common Mudskipper

• Common Name: Common Mudskipper

• Scientific Name: Periophthalmus kalolo

• Conservation Status: Least Concern

• Habitat: Marine and brackish waters of the Indo-Pacific, including mangrove forests, estuaries, and mudflats

• Size: Up to about 5.6 inches (14.1 centimeters) in standard length

The common mudskipper is one of the most remarkable amphibious fish, perfectly adapted to life both in and out of water. Found across the Indo-Pacific, this unique creature spends a significant portion of its time out of the water, often resting on mangrove roots or "walking" and "skipping" across the mudflats using its strong, muscular pectoral fins. Its most distinctive feature is its pair of large, bulging eyes, which are positioned on top of its head and can see clearly in the air. To breathe on land, the mudskipper can absorb oxygen through its moist skin and the lining of its mouth and throat, in addition to retaining water in its enlarged gill chambers. They are carnivores, primarily feeding on small crustaceans and insects they find on the mud. As a key resident of the intertidal zone, the common mudskipper is a fascinating example of evolutionary adaptation at the land-water interface.

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