Giant Mudskipper, Periophthalmodon freycineti (Valenciennes 1824)


Other Names: Great Mud-hopper

A Giant Mudskipper, Periophthalmodon freycineti, Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia, September 2014. Source: Bernard Dupont / Flickr. License: CC by Attribution-ShareAlike

Summary:
A large pale brown mudskipper with numerous white spots on the sides, a white underside, a dark brown dorsal stripe often from the eye to the caudal peduncle, 5-6 brown saddle-like bars in smaller individuals, and white margins on the dorsal fins.

Cite this page as:
Dianne J. Bray, Periophthalmodon freycineti in Fishes of Australia, accessed 29 Mar 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/140

Giant Mudskipper, Periophthalmodon freycineti (Valenciennes 1824)

More Info


Distribution

Inhabits tidal creek banks, inlets, tidal mudflats.

Features

Meristic features: D1 IV-V; Pectoral fin 15-17. 
Two rows of teeth on upper jaw, second row with few and smaller teeth.

Feeding

Carnivore - feeds on crabs, other invertebrates including insects, and small fishes.

Etymology

Periophthalmodon is a combination of the genus Periophthalmus and the Greek odous meaning 'tooth', in reference to the similarity to the genus Periophthalmus, and the prominent teeth in this genus. The species is named after Captain Freycinet, who collected the original specimens.

Author

Dianne J. Bray

Giant Mudskipper, Periophthalmodon freycineti (Valenciennes 1824)

References


Milward N.E. 1974. Studies on the taxonomy, ecology and physiology of Queensland mudskippers. PhD thesis, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 276 pp.

Murdy E.O. 1989. A taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of the oxudercine gobies (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae). Records of the Australian Museum Suppl. 11: 1–93.

Nursall J.R.1981. Behaviour and habitat adfecting the Distribution of five species of sympatric mudskippers in Queensland. Bulletin of Marine Science 31(3): 730–735.

Polgar G., Sacchetti A. & Galli P. 2010. Differentiation and adaptive radiation of amphibious gobies (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae) in semi-terrestrial habitats. Journal of Fish Biology 77: 1645–1664. DOI:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2010.02807.x

Takita T., Larson H.K. & Ishimatsu A. 2011. The natural history of mudskippers in northern Australia, with field identification characters. The Beagle, Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory 27: 189–204.

Quick Facts


CAAB Code:37428375

Behaviour:Burrowing

Biology:Amphibious

Max Size:21 cm SL

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Species Maps

CAAB distribution map