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Giant Mudskipper at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

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Mudskippers: The Fish That Walk on Land | Life | BBC Earth

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Mudskippers are commonly seen on some of our shores. They are particularly abundant in mangroves and muddy shores, but some like the More about Mudskippers
Family Gobiidae
Where seen? Gold-spotted mudskippers are also commonly seen on rocky shores and near reefs. how to tell apart small mudskippers commonly found on our shores.

Fish out of water? How do does it breathe out of water? Just as divers breathe underwater through tanks of air, the mudskipper carries 'tanks of water' in its gill chambers. These chambers are enlarged which give the fish their cute puffy-faced look. Just as air tanks give divers only limited breathing time underwater, the mudskipper also has to go back to the water to refresh the 'tank of water' in its gills. The fish can also breathe air through its wet skin. The mudskipper is in fact more comfortable crawling around on the mud than submerged in water!

What are mudskippers? Often mistaken for frogs or snakes, mudskippers are actually fish that breathe with gills. Mudskippers belong to the Family Gobiidae and include these four genera Boleophthalmus, Periophthalmus, Periophthalmadon and Scartelaos.

Features: Those seen about 6-12cm, some species can be much larger or smaller. Mudskippers are well adapted to the intertidal area. Being able to stay of water for a while gives mudskippers an advantage over 'normal' fishes. During low tide, they are among the few marine creatures that can exploit the dry muddy or sandy flats. updated Sep 2020

if you learn only 3 things about them ...

They are fishes but can breathe out of water. How do they do it?
They use their pectoral fins to crawl.
They are well camouflaged. Watch your step!

Bulbous eyes high on the head.
Kusu Island, Jun 05

Dorsal fin often colourful and raised
to communicate with other mudskippers.
Chek Jawa, Dec 09

These fishes can be quite quarrelsome.
Chek Jawa, Oct 07

Masters of the mudflats: The mudskipper has other interesting features that enables it to rule the mud! Large eyes at the top of the head give an all-round view - it's hard to sneak up on a mudskipper. While the mouth faces downwards to feed on the mud surface. The pectoral fins are used like crutches to crawl over mud. In some mudskippers, the pelvic fins are fused to form a sucker so they can better cling to rocks and mangrove tree roots. Some have colourful dorsal fins that can be raised to signal other mudskippers on the sand or mudflats.

How do mudskippers skip? They curl their muscular body sideways then push against the mud to spring forward. The Bearded mudskipper can 'stand' on its tail, if only for a brief moment, in an attempt to impress the ladies.

A tunnel at the base of the 'swimming pool'.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 12

Mudskipper tracks on the mud.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 12

Human uses: The Giant mudskipper is eaten in some places such as Taiwan. They are caught with nets strung at ground level, or with cast-nets.

Status and threats: The Giant mudskipper is listed among the threatened animals of Singapore, mainly due to habitat loss. Our other mudskippers are not listed as endangered. However, like other creatures of the intertidal zone, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution.

Unidentifed Mudskippers on Singapore shores

Some Mudskippers on Singapore shores

from Helen K. Larson, Zeehan Jaafar and Kelvin K. P. Lim. 29 June 2016. An updated checklist of the gobioid fishes of Singapore. Mudskippers recorded for Singapore

+Other additions (Singapore Biodiversity Record, etc)

Links References

Zeehan Jaafar, Kelvin K. P. Lim, Loke Ming Chou. 2009. Periophthalmus variabilis (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Oxudercinae), a Valid Species of Mudskipper, and a Re-diagnosis of Periophthalmus novemradiatus. Zoological Science 26(4):309-314.

Larson, Helen K and Kelvin K. P. Lim. 2005. A Guide to Gobies of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre. 164pp.

Mastaller, Michael, 1997. Mangroves: The Forgotten Forest Between Land and Sea. Tropical Press, Malaysia, 200 pp.

Field, Colin, 1995. Journey among Mangroves. International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, 139 pp.

Stafford-Deitsch, Jeremy, 1996. Mangrove: The Forgotten Habitat. Immel Publishing, London. 277 pp.

Wee Y.C. and Peter K. L. Ng. 1994. A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore. National Council on the Environment. 163pp.

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Mudskippers (Gobiidae) on Singapore shores

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Fact sheet with photos on flora and fauna of Singapore's intertidal shores

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Walking along the mangroves during low tide is always an enjoyable experience for nature lovers. This is when the mangrove mud comes to life. During this time of the day, the dark mud teems with crabs, small fish, snails and other crustaceans, moving all over the surface to look for food, and preparing for the next high tide.

There is one animal that I am always looking forward to observing at low tide: the Mudskipper. Though it can be hard for the untrained eye to spot, there are actually several common species to be found at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. The Giant Mudskipper, the Slender Mudskipper and the Yellow Spotted Mudskipper are the more commonly seen ones.

Mudskippers are so named because they appear to 'skip' on the mud. A mudskipper does this by curling its muscular body sideways, and then pushing against the mud to spring forward. It can also 'crawl' on the mud by using its fins and tail.

Although mudskippers are fish, they are more comfortable crawling around on the mud than being submerged in water. This is because they are amphibious, and can live out of water for extended periods of time. They breathe by retaining water in enlarged gill chambers, and can also breathe through their wet skin.

The next time you visit Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve during the low tide, keep an eye out for these fish. You will be fascinated by their unique and interesting behaviour.

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Walking along the mangroves during low tide is always an enjoyable experience for nature lovers. This is when the mangrove mud comes to life. During this time of the day, the dark mud teems with crabs, small fish, snails and other crustaceans, moving all over the surface to look for food, and preparing for the next high tide.