Atlantic Mudskipper

The Atlantic Mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus) is an amphibious goby in the family Oxudercidae, found along the tropical Atlantic coast of West and Central Africa. It is one of the most terrestrially adapted fish species, able to spend extended periods out of water on exposed mangrove mudflats thanks to modified pectoral fins that function like small limbs and skin capable of cutaneous respiration. Mudskippers are a familiar sight in West African mangrove and estuarine systems, where they are often seen basking on mud banks or roots at low tide. The species plays a notable ecological role in intertidal mangrove food webs and is frequently used as a model organism for studying the evolutionary transition from water to land in vertebrates.

• Body: elongated, cylindrical, olive-brown to grayish with darker mottling, 10-25 cm
• Eyes: large, bulging, set high atop the head, allowing vision above water
• Fins: muscular pectoral fins used for 'walking' or skipping across mud; tall dorsal fin, often raised in display and sometimes edged in blue or orange
• Behavior cue: frequently seen out of water on mud or roots, unlike typical fish

Distinguishing the Atlantic Mudskipper from other African mudskipper species relies on range (West/Central Africa only) and its relatively large size and robust body compared to smaller related species; dorsal fin coloration and pattern can also vary regionally.

Atlantic Mudskippers inhabit intertidal mangrove forests, mudflats, and brackish estuaries along the tropical Atlantic coast of West and Central Africa, from Senegal to Angola. They favor soft, muddy substrates within the intertidal zone, where they dig burrows used for shelter, egg incubation, and refuge from predators at high tide. The species tolerates a wide range of salinities, from nearly fresh to fully marine water, and is well adapted to the fluctuating conditions of mangrove ecosystems, including periods of full air exposure during low tide.

Atlantic Mudskippers are highly active out of water, using their muscular pectoral fins to skip, crawl, and even climb over mud, roots, and low vegetation in search of food and mates. They are largely solitary and territorial, with males defending mud burrows and displaying to rivals and potential mates by raising their dorsal fin and performing jumping displays. Feeding occurs both in and out of water, primarily on small invertebrates and insects found on exposed mud surfaces. Eggs are laid and guarded within the burrow, where the male maintains an air pocket to keep them oxygenated even as the burrow floods at high tide. As both predator of small invertebrates and prey for wading birds, the species is an important link in mangrove intertidal food webs.