Nick Volpe
Birdsong's Mudskipper (Boleophthalmus birdsongi)
A large and attractive mudskipper from the dense and dangerous mangroves of northern Australia. They live an amphibious lifestyle, creating burrows amongst the tidal mud of rivers and estuaries that are submerged at high tide. During low tides when the mudflats are exposed, the mudskippers emerge and feed on algae and detritus.
Mudskippers are able the breathe whilst out of the water through cutaneous respiration, where they are able to absorb oxygen through their skin and lining of their mouth whilst they are wet on the mud. They use their strong pectoral fins and specially designed 'shoulder joints' to help push themselves on land and can propel themselves with a quick tail-flip to avoid predators.
Birdsong's Mudskipper (Boleophthalmus birdsongi)
A large and attractive mudskipper from the dense and dangerous mangroves of northern Australia. They live an amphibious lifestyle, creating burrows amongst the tidal mud of rivers and estuaries that are submerged at high tide. During low tides when the mudflats are exposed, the mudskippers emerge and feed on algae and detritus.
Mudskippers are able the breathe whilst out of the water through cutaneous respiration, where they are able to absorb oxygen through their skin and lining of their mouth whilst they are wet on the mud. They use their strong pectoral fins and specially designed 'shoulder joints' to help push themselves on land and can propel themselves with a quick tail-flip to avoid predators.