Fauna
Species

Barred Mudskipper

Periophthalmus argentilineatus

Also known as Silverlined Mudskipper, Silver-lined Mudskipper

Barred mudskippers spend the vast majority of their active lives entirely out of the water, crawling across exposed tidal silt using muscular, elbow-like pectoral fins. They breathe on land by retaining water in specialized gill chambers while simultaneously absorbing oxygen through their vascularized skin. Territorial adults defend feeding plots around deep, water-filled mud burrows, flashing brightly patterned dorsal fins at rivals during falling tides.

AmphibiousMangroveIntertidal
Barred Mudskipper reference1 / 5
(c) Bryce Watts-Parker, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bryce Watts-Parker · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyFiddler crabs, Insects, Polychaete worms
Predators
  • Herons
  • Water snakes
  • Kingfishers
ThreatsMangrove clearing, coastal land reclamation, and estuary pollution
HabitatsMangrove swamps, tidal mudflats, and brackish estuaries
Life span3–5 years
Classification
  1. OrderPerciformes
  2. FamilyGobiidae
  3. GenusPeriophthalmus
  4. SpeciesPeriophthalmus argentilineatus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Tidal Timing: Visit mangrove boardwalks at low tide when mudflats emerge and fish actively forage and display.
  • Stealthy Approach: Tread lightly along the bank, as sudden footsteps create ground vibrations that send them skipping into burrows.
Related species
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