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New Guinea mudskipper (Periophthalmus novaeguineaensis) — Gobiidae

New Guinea mudskipper

Periophthalmus novaeguineaensis
Family: Gobiidae

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

Length
8 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The New Guinea mudskipper is a mudskipper (Oxudercidae) from tidal and mangrove areas of the mangroves of New Guinea. The species grows to about 8 cm and has an elongate, brown-grey body with high-set, bulging eyes. At low tide it crawls and skips over the exposed mud with its muscular pectoral fins, breathes air through skin and gill cavity and hunts small crustaceans, insects and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the New Guinea mudskipper?

The New Guinea mudskipper has a torpedo-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the New Guinea mudskipper live?

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

How big does the New Guinea mudskipper get?

The New Guinea mudskipper grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the New Guinea mudskipper dangerous to humans?

No, the New Guinea mudskipper is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Nieuw-Guinea-slijkspringer sourced
English name
New Guinea mudskipper sourced
Scientific name
Periophthalmus novaeguineaensis
Family
Gobiidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
8.0 verified
Body shape
Torpedo-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced

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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