MUD-SKIPPERS

The mud-skippers are amphibious fishes that are found widely at tropical and sub-tropical mangrove mudflats. They are very active during low tides and move around with their strong pectoral fins. Maintaining a moist skin is important to allow cutaneous air breathing. Meaning the ability to breathe through its skin, the lining of its mouth (the mucosa) and its throat (the pharynx). Enlarged gill chambers also allow the fish to retain air for breathing.
Home to the mud-skippers are burrows dug into the soft mud flat. It is here that they hide from predators, lay eggs and to thermoregulate themselves. Even at high tide, they can hide in the burrows as the air trapped inside allow them to breathe without coming to the water surface.
Mud-skippers are carnivorous and feed on small preys. They can be very territorial and males are often seen confronting each others over their territories.
In Japan and Taiwan, the mudskippers are highly priced as delicacies.
There are a number of species of mudskippers foun in Malaysia.


A). BLUE SPOTTED MUD-SKIPPERS(Boleophthalmus boddarti):

A blue spotted mud-skipper hanging out of its burrow.

The blue spotted mud-skippers are quite widely distributed in Malaysia. They are rather territorial and fights and confrontations are very common among individuals. During confrontations, the male's colorful dorsal fin is raised. It will do the same while courting to show off its attributes to the female. If the female is interested, she will follow the male back to its burrow.

One of the frequent confrontations.

The mud-skippers have a habit of blowing water out of its gills and mouths. Maybe to cleanse the mucous membranes so as to breathe easier.

No they are not singing a duet but confronting each others.

B) GOLD SPOTTED MUD-SKIPPERS (Periophthalmus chrysospilos):

A gold spotted mud-skipper.

 The gold spotted mud-skippers like to group together in large numbers of about 20 individuals. They keep in front of the advancing tide. The male dorsal fins are lined with red at the outer frindges. Instead of having blue spots they have golden spots on their bodies.
Behaviours are about the same as the other mud-skippers.

Two male golden spot mud-skippers confronting each others.

Holding on so as not to be washed off the rock.

Getting away from the crashing waves.

C). GIANT MUD-SKIPPER (Periophthalmodon schlosseri).
 

A giant mud-skipper in the water.

It is the largest mud-skipper in Malaysia. It has a elongated dark stripe running along the whole length of its body. During high tide they could be seen clinging on to mangrove tree roots. Often seen digging a small pool filled with water where they normally build a burrow for breeding too. The soft mud are suck into it huge mouth and then deposited at the edge of the pool. to fortify it.

Here it can be seen to blow bubbles through it gills while swimming.

A giant mud-skipper with outstretched dorsal fin.