Arti Rani*
Department of Zoology, B.N.M.University, Madhepura, Bihar, India
Received : 22nd April, 2020 ; Revised : 20th May, 2020
Abstract– Mudskippers are members of the subfamily Oxudercinae (tribe periothalamini) within the family gobidie (gobies). They are completely amphibious fish that can use their pectoral fins to walk on land. Being amphious, they are unique adapted to intertidal habits, unlike most fish in such habitats, which survive the retreat of the tide by hiding under wet seaweed or in tidal pools. Mudskippers are quiet active when they are out of water, feeding and interacting with one another. Mudskipper constitute a group of 25 air- breathing species in four genera which contain periopthalamus, periopthalamodon, Boleophthalmus and Scartielaeos) that are the most derived and the most amphibious of the ten genera of the telecoast subfamily Oxudercinae (Gobidue). Mudskippers are important for their biological and eco-toxicological studies and recognized as potential bio-indicator in environmental monitoring and assessments of coastal waters and tropical or subtropical soft bottom intertidal systems. Mudskippers are very sensitive to ambient environment and this potential would be beneficial for new researches on this species especially its ecological importance in detecting pollution levels in coastal water ecosystems. Using these organisms as bio-indicator of pollution, environmental quality programme could be established. Regularly discharged pollutants have imminent detrimental effect on the flora and fauna of coastal ecosystems especially mangrove ecosystems and tropical mudflats. Abundance and distribution of mudskippers on land as well as in coastal waters could be considered as a direct indicator of habitat health.
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