Fish Out Of Water
Say hello to the Mudskipper – the fish that not just survives, but thrives out of water. Most commonly seen on mudflats and around estuarine mangrove swamps (along most of the Indian coastline), the mudskipper can walk (the motion resembles skipping) on land. It is a part of the Goby Fish family, and has colonised both land and water.
The mudskipper has animated frog-like protruding eyes that move independently of each other. Stay still long enough and its curious nature will prompt it to skip close and stare at you. And when it does that, it's hard not to notice those fabulous colours in its eyes – turquoise, yellow, green, red, ochre, black, gold. Its torpedo-shaped body can hop several times its body length using the power of its tail fin, while its muscular pectoral fin is modified to 'walk'.
Mudskippers are territorial and vicious – they fight a lot, even going so far as to head-butt each other.
This is a glimpse into the the life, world and curious goings-on of the fascinating little creatures.