|
Periophthalmus modestus Cantor, 1842 Shuttles hoppfish |
|
|
|
photo by
Murdy, E.O. |
| Family: | Oxudercidae (Mudskippers), subfamily: Periophthalminae | |||
| Max. size: | 10 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine, amphidromous | |||
| Distribution: | Northwest Pacific: Vietnam (Ref. 44416), northward to Korea and southern Japan (Ref. 559). | |||
| Diagnosis: | Distinguished by the following characteristics: pelvic fins united anteriorly by a moderate to strong frenum; medial rays united by a membrane for about half their length; D 1 height moderate, its margin rounded, a dusky stripe inframarginally and no spots on fin, no elongate spines; D2 with single dusky stripe inframarginally; dorsal fins not connected by membrane; D I with 1O-l7 spines; longitudinal scale count 75-100; head width 14.1-19.8% SL; pelvic fin length 11.5-14.6% SL; length of anal fin base 16.1-22.2% SL; length of D2 base 19.8-24.1 % SL; total D2 elements 12-14; total anal fin elements 11-13; TRDB 19-29 (Ref. 5218). | |||
| Biology: | Intertidal, actively shuttling back and forth between rock pools and air (Ref. 31184). They breathe air when out of water (Ref. 31184). Can stay out of the water for up to 22-60 hours if kept moist (Ref. 51276). Inhabits level mudflats with no vegetation (Ref. 92840). Found in estuaries, swamps, marshy areas and tidal mud flats. Moves around briskly on land preying on small animals. Used in Chinese medicine (Ref. 12166). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||