Giant mudskipper

The giant mudskipper (Periophthalmodon schlosseri) is a species of mudskipper native to the tropical shores of the eastern Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean where it occurs in marine, brackish and fresh waters. It is most frequently found along muddy shores in estuaries as well as in the tidal zones of rivers. It lives in burrows that it constructs in higher grounds of the intertidal zone, which are typically filled with both water and air. During warmer seasons, it is typically active outside of its burrow during low tide. It is an obligate air-breather and is capable of drowning without sufficient access to air, so it spends much of its life on land. As its name suggests, the giant mudskipper is distinguishable by its larger size when compared to other mudskipper species. Males have been recorded to grow up to 27.5 cm (10.8 in) TL, while females have been found to grow up to 28.5 cm (11.2 in) TL. Typically, it is a yellow or greenish-brown color with light blue speckles on its side, but when disturbed or agitated, it will display a bold, black, and uninterrupted horizontal stripe that runs from its eye to its caudal peduncle. This species is of minor importance to local commercial fisheries. Aside from being sold at high values as a food source, mudskippers are also used in traditional medicines in Malaysia and parts of India.