Who is jumping around on the beach? Of course, it’s the “Bouncing Prince” of the fish world.

Mudskippers, also known as jumping fish and loach fish, belong to the family Goby and are small fish in the coastal intertidal zone. There are 31 species in the world. They are famous for their unique ability to walk on land and their energetic personality. The two eyes of the mudskipper protrude from the body and each has its own function, one to explore food and the other to explore the enemy. Adult mudskippers are usually no more than 20 cm long and are covered with mucus on their bodies, which helps reduce friction when moving in a wet environment. Their strong pectoral fins and abdominal muscles allow them to "jump" on the beach when the tide recedes, looking for food or escaping from natural enemies. In addition, they are able to absorb oxygen through their skin and mouth, which means that they can survive for a period of time even if they leave the water. This ability prevents mudskippers from suffocating immediately when they dry up.

Mudskippers are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, Europe and America. They can be found active in intertidal mudflats, mangrove roots or near reefs. They are highly adaptable to the environment. On sunny days, they jump or forage on mudflats, feeding on benthic diatoms or blue-green algae, plankton, sandworms and small insects on the mudflats.

Every year during the breeding season, mudskippers perform a spectacular courtship dance. Males dig holes in tide pools or mudflats to attract females to lay eggs. Before mating, males perform various display behaviors, such as rapid jumps and color changes, to attract the attention of their partners. This unique courtship process fully demonstrates the complex social behavior and communication ability of mudskippers.

Mudskippers play a vital role in the intertidal ecosystem. They are both consumers and engineers. The behavior of mudskippers digging holes on the beach changes the soil structure, improves aeration and water cycle efficiency, promotes the growth of microorganisms, and indirectly supports a series of biological populations that rely on a healthy benthic environment for survival. Their existence is undoubtedly a contribution to the ecological stability of the coastline.

The lifestyle and behavior of mudskippers demonstrate the infinite wisdom of biological evolution. In a limited space, they have developed a variety of survival skills and have become a unique landscape on the coastline. Understanding and protecting mudskippers means respecting the choice of nature and praising the diversity of the earth on which we depend for survival. Let us work together to protect this gift from nature and allow them to continue jumping on our coastline, showing the infinite possibilities of life.

References

[1] Zhang Nan, Guo Geng. The bouncing “coastal elf” - mudskippers[J]. Knowledge is power, 2019, (02): 34-35.

[2] The fish that can climb trees - mudskipper[J]. Primary School Student Learning Guide, 2021, (27): 33.

[3] Wang Zuyuan. Mudskippers that can walk, jump and climb walls[J]. Second Classroom (A), 2021, (06): 4-9.

[4] Wang Yang. Australian mudskipper: an architect from the ocean to the land[J]. Green Vision, 2016, (06): 44-46.