Boddart's Blue-spotted Mudskipper (Boleophthalmus boddarti)
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| A small Boddart's Blue-spotted Mudskipper found in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. |
Family: Oxudercidae (Subfamily Oxudercinae - Mudskippers)
Species Name: Boleophthalmus boddarti
Common Name(s): Boddart's Blue-spotted Mudskipper, Boddart's Goggle-eyed Goby, Blue-spotted Mudskipper
Common Name(s): Boddart's Blue-spotted Mudskipper, Boddart's Goggle-eyed Goby, Blue-spotted Mudskipper
Presence in Singapore: Native
Habitat: Coastal: Open mudflats near and beyond the mangrove roots.
Conservation status: Vulnerable (Red Data Book 3)
Habitat: Coastal: Open mudflats near and beyond the mangrove roots.
Conservation status: Vulnerable (Red Data Book 3)
This genus of large mudskippers are unmistakable for they are commonly filmed for documentaries due to their range of behaviours. The Boddart's Blue-spotted Mudskipper can reach a maximum recorded length of 22cm and can be separated from other blue-spotted mudskippers via its slanting black stripes. As its name suggests, both the sides of the body and fins are covered in blue spots. Their dorsal fins are impressive with long, filamentous spines.
The Boddart's Blue-spotted Mudskipper lives out on the open mudflats that are revealed during low tide beyond the mangrove trees. Larger individuals are found further out than smaller individuals, which reside closer to the trees. During high tide, this species hide in their burrows where there is an air pocket inside.
This mudskipper has a stocky build which it smoothly drags across the mudflats it calls home. Its large mouth appears to be more for burrowing and fighting rather than capturing prey, for it leads a herbivorous and detritivorous lifestyle. To feed, they skim the mud by moving their heads side to side, scraping up the microbes present on the surface such as algae.
Males put on a beautiful display by jumping into the air with fins fully flared, in hopes of attracting a female. If a female is interested, they enter the burrow together to mate. Very small juveniles are pinkish (see Ong & Tay, 2024).
This mudskipper has a stocky build which it smoothly drags across the mudflats it calls home. Its large mouth appears to be more for burrowing and fighting rather than capturing prey, for it leads a herbivorous and detritivorous lifestyle. To feed, they skim the mud by moving their heads side to side, scraping up the microbes present on the surface such as algae.
Males put on a beautiful display by jumping into the air with fins fully flared, in hopes of attracting a female. If a female is interested, they enter the burrow together to mate. Very small juveniles are pinkish (see Ong & Tay, 2024).
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| Mudskippers roll on their sides to keep themselves moist! |
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| A juvenile Boddart's Blue-spotted Mudskipper. |
References
- FishBase. Boleophthalmus boddarti (Pallas, 1770) – (Boddart's goggle-eyed goby). Retrieved from https://fishbase.se/summary/4901
- Lim, K.K.P. & Low, J.K.Y. 1998. A Guide to Common Marine Fishes of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, 163 pp. ISBN 981-00-9904-5.
- National Parks Board (NParks). Marine Fishes. Retrieved from https://www.nparks.gov.sg/nature/species-list/marine-fishes.
- Ong JXL & Tay JX (2024) Biodiversity Record: Fish fauna of a mangrove tide pool at Sungei Buloh. Nature in Singapore, 17: e2024056. DOI: 10.26107/NIS-2024-0056
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