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Mudskippers store air in their burrows

Author

Listed:
  • Atsushi Ishimatsu

    (Marine Research Institute, Nagasaki University)

  • Yasuhiro Hishida

    (Marine Research Institute, Nagasaki University)

  • Toru Takita

    (Faculty of Fisheries, Nagasaki University)

  • Takeshi Kanda

    (Fisheries Research Laboratory, Miyazaki University)

  • Shin Oikawa

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University)

  • Tatsusuke Takeda

    (Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University)

  • Khoo Khay Huat

    (School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia)

Abstract

Mudskipper fishes can maintain their metabolism while they are confined in mudflat burrows filled with oxygen-depleted water, and their eggs, deposited in the burrows, can develop under severely hypoxic conditions1. How they cope with such conditions has been unclear. We report here that a mudskipper species Periophthalmodon schlosseri (Fig. 1) accumulates air in its burrows. This behaviour seems to be an adaptation to provide oxygen for burrow-dwelling fish and for embryos developing in the burrows. Figure 1 Periophthalmodon schlosseri resting in the surface water pool of a burrow. The fish on the left has just emerged from the burrow and is gulping air.

Suggested Citation

  • Atsushi Ishimatsu & Yasuhiro Hishida & Toru Takita & Takeshi Kanda & Shin Oikawa & Tatsusuke Takeda & Khoo Khay Huat, 1998. "Mudskippers store air in their burrows," Nature, Nature, vol. 391(6664), pages 237-238, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:391:y:1998:i:6664:d:10.1038_34560
    DOI: 10.1038/34560
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