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Minute mudskipper (Periophthalmus minutus) — Gobiidae

Minute mudskipper

Periophthalmus minutus
Family: Gobiidae

The Minute mudskipper (Periophthalmus minutus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.8 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Minute mudskipper is a mudskipper (Oxudercidae) from muddy tidal flats, mangroves and estuaries of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 12 cm and has an elongate, grey-brown body with high-set, bulging eyes and muscular pectoral fins on which it 'walks' and skips across the exposed mud. At low tide it defends a territory and snaps at small crustaceans, insects and algae. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Minute mudskipper?

The Minute mudskipper has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Minute mudskipper live?

The Minute mudskipper lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Minute mudskipper get?

The Minute mudskipper grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Minute mudskipper dangerous to humans?

No, the Minute mudskipper is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Dwerg-slijkspringer sourced
English name
Minute mudskipper sourced
Scientific name
Periophthalmus minutus
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.8 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Periophthalmus

More from the family Gobiidae

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