What does mudskipper mean?
A mudskipper is a small fish that lives on muddy shores in tropical and subtropical coastal regions, including mangroves, tidal flats, and estuaries. It is unusual among fish because it can move across wet ground by swinging and propelling itself with its pectoral fins. Mudskippers also breathe through their moist skin and the lining of their mouth and gill chambers, allowing them to survive when they are out of water, provided they do not become dry. Many spend much of their time around burrows into which they retreat when threatened or when the tide comes in. The name combines “mud,” for their habitat, with “skipper,” reflecting their characteristic movement. Their amphibious behaviour and ability to remain active on land make mudskippers a distinctive and conspicuous feature of mangrove and mudflat ecosystems.
nounA small amphibious fish found in tropical and subtropical mudflats and estuaries, able to breathe through moist skin and move over land using its fins.
- An amphibious fish of the goby family, typically inhabiting muddy shores, tidal flats, and estuaries in tropical and subtropical regions.
"A mudskipper crawled across the exposed mud, using its pectoral fins to propel itself."
"Mudskippers bask beside their burrows at low tide."
"The guide explained how mudskippers use their fins to move across the exposed shoreline."
The regular plural is “mudskippers.” The word is also often used generically in the plural to refer to the group of fishes.
"Several mudskippers moved across the wet mud as the tide receded."
A mudskipper can navigate land with its fins, but it must keep its skin moist so that it can breathe through it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does mudskipper come from?
The word is an English compound formed from “mud” and “skipper.” The first element names the fish’s characteristic habitat, while “skipper” evokes the way it moves about on land. The compound belongs to the broad English tradition of naming animals by combining a habitat term with a word describing their characteristic behaviour.
How mudskipper is actually used
The term is a general English name for members of several genera within the goby family rather than the name of a single species. It is most commonly encountered in descriptions of tropical coastal ecosystems.
Easily confused with mudskipper
A mudskipper is a distinct amphibious goby adapted to moving on wet mud, whereas mudfish can refer to several unrelated species of fish.