Atlantic mudskipper
African Mudskipper on the coast of Gambia.
The African Mudskipper ( Periophthalmus barbarus ), also called Atlantic Mudskipper, is an amphibian live fish from the group of Grundelartigen ( Gobioidei ), which occurs on the West African coast from Senegal to Angola and on the coasts of the islands in the Gulf of Guinea. He is, in addition to 17 Indo-Pacific mudskipper species, the only occurring at an Atlantic Coast mudskippers.
Features
The African Mudskipper is a maximum of 14.5 to 16.5 cm long. Reports on specimens with 25 cm length based on confusion with other gobies. It has an elongated body, close together and high -set eyes, two distinctly separate dorsal fins and muscular pectoral fins with which it can be hopping move on land. The horizontal stationary jaw is large and extends to below the eye center. A fold of skin hangs over the upper lip. The anterior nares are tubular and reach the height of the lower lip, the rear are small slots. The upper edge of the gill cover, the Vorkiemendeckel, the region between the eyes and pectoral fins base are covered with small round scales. The scales in front of the first dorsal fin up to the posterior margin of the eyes.
- Fins formula: Dorsal 1 X -XI, 2 I/10-13 Dorsal, Anal I/8-10, pectoral 13-14.
- Dandruff formula: MLR 86-107.
The first dorsal fin is higher than the second. The fin base of the second is longer than the distance from its rear end to the beginning of the caudal fin. The pelvic fins are fused together by fin membrane on their fifth, segmented fin ray. The caudal fin is asymmetrical, the upper fin rays are longer.
African mudskippers are brownish, rust- brown or olive colored, with oblique dark cross bands and a lighter belly. On the flanks and sides of the head you can see little blue dots. The dorsal fins have an outer bright, blue-white edge and including a dark band. The anal fin is whitish, sometimes provided with small dark spots. The caudal fin is dark, the lower portion a little brighter.
Way of life
The African Mudskipper is mainly in brackish water lagoons, estuaries and mangroves ago on muddy ground reasons and goes from time to time in the fresh water of lower reaches of rivers. It feeds mainly on crustaceans and insects, besides also of plant material. It spawns in self-dug caves.