A Curious Collection of Peculiar Creatures

This territorial, amphibious fish is quite the looker. Their brown, slimy body can reach 6 inches (15 cm) long. Their eyes sit on top of their head, rather than on the sides, which makes them look a little like a frog—and means they have a 360-degree view of the world.

The mudskipper’s pectoral fins—the ones on their chest, closest to their head—are shaped like limbs and let the fish “walk” over rocks and sand. Mudskippers have even been known to climb up the roots of mangrove trees!

They get their name from their long, strong tail, which they can use as a springboard to propel themselves forward in a skipping or hopping motion. This clever adaptation not only helps them escape predators, but also lets them get around on land.

But the most remarkable thing about this fish? They spend most of their time on land! Incredibly, the Atlantic mudskipper has evolved to live both in and out of the water. They can even breathe in the air thanks to small pockets behind their gills where water and oxygen are stored.

Atlantic mudskippers are found along the coast of West Africa and off islands in the Gulf of Guinea. They prefer shallow, muddy, swampy areas where they can spend their days darting back and forth between the water and land, keeping themselves hydrated while searching for food.

Since mudskippers are able to hunt for food both underwater and on land, they can be found feasting on all sorts of creatures, including crickets, flies, beetles, worms, small fish, and crabs.

Fortunately, Atlantic mudskippers are under very little threat from humans or other predators. They also have a large, widespread habitat range, which means they can make their homes in many places.

Fun Facts

When they’re on land, Atlantic mudskippers keep their eyes wet by rolling them down into pockets filled with water located beneath their eyes.
During mating season, the males become more vibrant in color.
Males that live close to one another are quite competitive about their territory and will act aggressively toward each other, sometimes fighting to the death.
There are 15 species of mudskipper in the world; the Atlantic mudskipper has the largest population of them all.
Their scientific name, Periophthalmus, refers to their ability to see all around them, in every direction, and translates to “round eye.”