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Vol 2 No 2 Dec 95 Mudskippers at Sungei Buloh The Mangrove Boardwalk Site Studies at Sungei Buloh		Mudskippers Strange Creatures of the Swamp Mudskippers are usually found in mangrove swamps at the estuaries of rivers. The mud deposited by the rivers here is a suitable place for mudskippers to build their burrows. There is no shortage of food, as algae and small animals like worms, crabs and snails on which they feed are found in abundance in the waters and mudflats. These strange creatures of the swamp are fish that do not behave like fish: they hop out of the water, "walk" across the mud and even climb trees. They are equally at home on land and in water. Come to Sungei Buloh Nature Park, and don't forget to bring your binoculars. The best places in the Park to observe mudskippers are the Mangrove Boardwalk at the Visitor Centre and the Mangrove Arboretum. You'll be fascinated when you spot mudskippers—some veritable giants among them—lazing in their private mud pools at low tide. The Park is home to at least five species of mudskippers: the Giant, Dark-gilled, Gold-spotted, Blue-spotted and Lanceolate Mudskippers. At high tide, these fish clamber up the stilt roots of mangrove plants to rest. Their weird bulging eyes lie close together on the top of their heads and are equipped with lower eyelids... so don't be surprised if you catch a mudskipper blinking at you!! Swim, hop and crawl: this fish does them all Using its powerful pectoral fins as legs, the mudskipper crawls around in the mud. When disturbed, it seeks the safety of water by using its tail to hop across the mud. Back in the water, it swims around like other fishes do, but keeps its head above water. Sometimes, the fish "treads water" by flexing its tail slowly from side to side. When provoked, it flips its tail vigorously from side to side, and leaps across the water before settling back for a swim. Can you breathe through your skin? The mudskipper can!! In water, the mudskipper breathes through gills like other fishes do. However, when on land, it carries around its own "air tanks"; a mixture of air and water in its gill chambers. The blood vessels in the gills absorb the oxygen as the water passes through the gills. When the oxygen is used up, a fresh mouthful of water is gulped in. For added security, it has moist skin under which there is a rich supply of blood vessels. This enables the fish to breathe through its skin as well. Finding a mate in the mud The mudskipper goes to great lengths to attract a mate. Each species of mudskipper has its own courtship style. The amorous Gold-spotted Mudskipper starts off by selecting a site on the mudflat not too near the other burrows, for he treasures his privacy. Then he builds a burrow by scooping out mouthfuls of mud and dumping the mud around the burrow entrance. His house completed, the mudskipper casts his roving eyes around, and when he spots an attractive female, wags his tail and jumps around with his dorsal fins erect. The curious female edges closer for a better view, and this makes him show off even more. With his head held high, he puffs up his orange throat for her to see, then disappears head first into the burrow. The female lingers coyly outside the burrow until he reappears and starts blowing bubbles her way. Falling for his bubbles, she follows him into the tunnel of love. After mating, the pair emerge from the burrow. There she sits smugly at the edge of the burrow, while her mate scampers about defending the territory. He is kept busy chasing away rival males trying to grab his mate, as well as mangrove crabs out to usurp him from his home. So there you have it: the intimate secrets of this most unusual creature. Come see this versatile fish in action at Sungei Buloh now.
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