Fish of the Day 49 - I got that mudskipper in me

Today's fish of the day is the wonderous mudskipper! I recently saw a video of them on tiktok and all the comments were bullying the poor things,, haters are just jealous

Mudskipper facts:

- The mudskipper gets it's name from a very unique trait it possesses: it's tendancy to spend so much time on land! Mudskippers usually live in muddy, swampy environments, and they are always spotted “walking” on the mud, or as their name suggests, skipping. They do this by using their pectoral fins as feet. They are able to survive on land due to their specialized gills, and their ability to absorb oxygen through their skin like many amphibians. However, they can only do this when their body is wet, which is why they enjoy mud.

- They have total control over their eyes and can move them independantly. This ability gives them a 360° view of their surroundings!

- To find a mate, male mudskippers have jumping contests! The higher the jump, the more impressive, at least for females. Mudskippers are able to jump up to 2ft in the air, which is certainly impressive in my eyes. The winner of these jumping contests will sometimes let out a victory grunt, like any valiant mudskipper would.

- Apperently, in India, there have been sightings of a mudskipper that can glow red. It's considered a cryptid!

- Mudskippers can be labeled as bioindicators, which means their health reflects the current state of their own habitat. Being exposed to both water and land means these animals are prone to absorbing heavy metals in their tissues, so in this case, their health can reflect the level of metals such as lead in their environments. 

Do you got that mudskipper in you? I think they're pretty funny and kinda cute, but they certainly aren't any moray, so I'm not sure what my answer to that question would be. I think i'll pass. However I do LOVE to skip and jump so they get bonus points for being relatable.