Mudskipper, Boddart’s Goggle-Eyed

Description

Mudskipper Boddart’s Goggle-Eyed
Beleophthalmus boddarti

The Mudskipper Boddart’s Goggle-Eyed
Beleophthalmus boddarti is a brackish water member of the Gobiidae family that is found throughout northern India, Myanmar, Thailand, peninsular and insular Malaysia; and locally near the Ganges delta in India. Not only are these Mudskippers able to breathe air through their skin, and the lining of their mouth and throat; they are also capable of “walking” on land using their modified pectoral and pelvic fins.

Because they can only breathe air through their skin when it is wet, their habitat is limited to very humid climates where they can easily keep themselves moistened when out of water. They have enlarged gill chambers that allow them to retain a bubble of air. When they are out of the water, the chamber is tightly closed off by a valve in the gill slit which allows their stiff gills to remain moist. Because their gill filaments are so stiff, and do not coalesce when out of water, the Mudskipper has the ability to function on land for extended periods of time. This style of breathing, known as cutaneous air breathing, is similar to the mode used by amphibians.

This Mudskipper‘s pectoral fins have two segments (the radials and the rays) and two movable hinge joints that act as a sort of movable shoulder joint. Their radial pectoral fins are elongated and protrude from their body which enables them to more easily walk on land. Mudskipper Boddart’s Goggle-Eyed  along with several other species, will dig deep burrows in the soft sediment that they live among which allow the fish to regulate their body temperature, avoid marine predators during high tides when the fish and the burrow are submerged, and to lay their eggs.

Although there are around 41 known species of mudskippers dispersed throughout the world, there are only 5 species that tropical fish keeping enthusiasts are easily able to procure in the ornamental fish trade with any regularity.

The Mudskipper Boddart’s Goggle-Eyed
Beleophthalmus boddarti is a moderately sized species that grows to about 3 inches in length and is easy to keep. For use in Paludariums, Terrariums, Wet Exhibits, Frog Habitat, Amphibious fish, Ornamental Pond/Stream.   Size at shipping about 2 – 2.5″