Page 47 - Atlas Of The World's Strangest Animals

MUDSKIPPER 47

Larger species of mudskippers reproduce on land in purpose- Each male energetically guards his burrow, deterring
built, funnel-shaped burrows.These need to be deep enough passing, rival males by bobbing aggressively and flashing his
to stay permanently flooded. dorsal fins.

This intruder isn’t impressed, so our resident mudskipper Fortunately, the female is impressed! She follows the
tackles the problem head on, locking mouths with the victorious male to his burrow, where she lays her eggs in
interloper in a trial of strength. special brooding chambers.

Fish don’t breathe water.They need oxygen just like we Moving about on land with only fins, rather than
do, but instead of filtering it out of the air, they use gills to legs, has necessitated further, subtle adaptations. Many
extract it from the water.When fish open and close their aquatic gobies already have vertical fins, which are
mouths, with that slightly comic gulping action, they’re fused into a cup shape.These help them to cling onto
actually breathing.They are taking in water and pumping coral. Some species of mudskippers use the same
it through their gills, where oxygen and carbon dioxide ‘adhesive cups’ to climb around on the mud flats in
are exchanged. search of food. Others use these unfused fins like hind
Mudskippers have adapted this procedure so that they legs.The mudskippers’ secret to success, though, are
can continue to extract oxygen from the water while on their enlarged pectoral fins.
land.Their enlarged gill chambers can be filled with water Pectoral fins are located on either side of a fishes’
and then ‘sealed up’.As long as these chambers are refilled body and, in aquatic species, they help to generate ‘lift’
regularly, their gills will continue to work extracting as the fish swim. Mudskippers use them in conjunction
oxygen. If they stay wet, they can also absorb oxygen with their strong caudal tail fins, enabling them to
through their skin just like amphibians. By combining both walk, quite effectively, with a hopping, jerky gait
systems, mudskippers can stay on land for up to three days. known as crutching.

(c) 2011 Marshall Cavendish. All Rights Reserved.