Periophthalmus darwini facts for kids

Darwin's mudskipper (Periophthalmus darwini) is a special type of fish called a mudskipper. It was discovered not too long ago, in 2004. This amazing fish lives in Australia, near muddy banks and mangrove trees. It's a ray-finned fish, which means its fins are supported by bony rays. It belongs to the goby family. This mudskipper got its name from the famous scientist Charles Darwin, because the first one found was in Darwin Harbour. One unique thing about this mudskipper is its very small first fin on its back, which is true for both males and females.

What Does It Look Like?

Darwin's mudskipper has a body shape similar to other mudskippers. Its eyes stick out on top of its head, helping it see well. These fish are quite small, growing up to about 4.6 centimeters long.

Special Features

A key way to tell Darwin's mudskipper apart from other mudskippers is its tiny first dorsal fin. This fin is much smaller than what you'd see on other mudskippers. Its body is usually light brown. It often has dark brown stripes on its head. You might also see dark brown patches and irregular bars on its body.

What Does It Eat?

Darwin's mudskipper has been seen eating small invertebrates. These are tiny creatures without backbones, like small crabs. However, scientists haven't studied their diet in detail yet.

Where Does It Live?

Darwin's mudskipper lives in areas where fresh water mixes with salt water. This is called brackish water. You can find them in the intertidal zone, which is the area between high and low tide. They live in tidal creeks and inlets along muddy banks. These mudskippers are always found close to mangrove trees. They often live in groups and are known to be less aggressive than other types of mudskippers.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Scientists don't know much about how Darwin's mudskipper reproduces or its full life cycle. There haven't been any detailed studies published on these topics yet.

Where Can You Find It?

You can find Darwin's mudskipper in two parts of Australia: the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

How It Interacts with Humans

Darwin's mudskipper is harmless to people. While some other types of mudskippers are kept as pets in aquariums, Darwin's mudskipper is not usually part of the aquarium trade.

Why Is It Called Darwin's Mudskipper?

This mudskipper is named after the famous naturalist Charles Darwin. The place where the first one was found, Darwin, Northern Territory, was also named after him.

See also

In Spanish: Periophthalmus darwini para niños