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Graceful mudskipper (Periophthalmus gracilis) — Gobiidae

Graceful mudskipper

Periophthalmus gracilis
Family: Gobiidae

The Graceful mudskipper (Periophthalmus gracilis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Gobiidae that grows up to 5 cm.

Length
4.5 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The graceful mudskipper is a small mudskipper (Oxudercidae) from tidal and mangrove areas of the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 5 cm and has a slender, brown-grey body with high-set, bulging eyes. At low tide it crawls and skips over the exposed mud with its muscular pectoral fins, breathes air through skin and gill cavity and hunts small crustaceans, insects and worms. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Graceful mudskipper?

The Graceful mudskipper has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Graceful mudskipper live?

The Graceful mudskipper lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Graceful mudskipper get?

The Graceful mudskipper grows to a maximum of about 5 cm.

Is the Graceful mudskipper dangerous to humans?

No, the Graceful mudskipper is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Sierlijke slijkspringer sourced
English name
Graceful mudskipper sourced
Scientific name
Periophthalmus gracilis
Family
Gobiidae
Other names
Mudskipper; Slender mudskipper verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.5 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Superior (upward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Periophthalmus

More from the family Gobiidae

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