Home · Oxudercidae · Mudskipper
Mudskipper (Periophthalmus modestus) — Oxudercidae

Mudskipper

Periophthalmus modestus
Family: Oxudercidae

The Mudskipper (Periophthalmus modestus) is a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water of the family Oxudercidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10 cm
Water
Euryhaline
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
East Asia; intertidal zone of mudflats, mangroves and river mouths.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Want the complete picture on the Mudskipper?

Description

The shuttles mudskipper is a mudskipper (Oxudercidae) from East Asia. The species is an amphibious goby with high-set, protrusible eyes and stout, arm-like pectoral fins with which it 'walks' and hops over the mud. It lives in the intertidal zone of mudflats, mangroves and river mouths and constantly shuttles between tide pools and the air; out of water it breathes through the skin and gill cavity. On the exposed mud it searches for small invertebrates. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Mudskipper?

The Mudskipper has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern. Amphibious goby that walks over the mud and breathes air out of the water.

Where does the Mudskipper live?

The Mudskipper lives in both fresh and salt water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom. East Asia; intertidal zone of mudflats, mangroves and river mouths.

How big does the Mudskipper get?

The Mudskipper grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Mudskipper dangerous to humans?

No, the Mudskipper is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Mudskipper edible?

The Mudskipper is rarely eaten.

More photos

Mudskipper (Periophthalmus modestus) — Oxudercidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Webridge (CC BY 3.0)
Mudskipper (Periophthalmus modestus) — Oxudercidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Hsiu Hing Wo, Ivan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Mudskipper (Periophthalmus modestus) — Oxudercidae — 4
Wikimedia Commons — Alpsdake (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mudskipper (Periophthalmus modestus) — Oxudercidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — OpenCage (CC BY-SA 2.5)

Want the complete picture on the Mudskipper?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Mudskipper is one of 12,519 species in the app.

All data

Identification

English name
Mudskipper verified
Scientific name
Periophthalmus modestus
Family
Oxudercidae verified
Other names
Shuttles hoppfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown
Pattern
Spots
Tail shape
Rounded
Mouth position
Superior (upward)
Lips
Thick / fleshy
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
Two separate
Dorsal spines
Yes sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Euryhaline sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Natural range
East Asia; intertidal zone of mudflats, mangroves and river mouths.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small invertebrates on exposed mud sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups
Territorial
Yes
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Amphibious goby that walks over the mud and breathes air out of the water. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Periophthalmus

Want the complete picture on the Mudskipper?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Mudskipper is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Is this the Mudskipper?