Fishes Out of Water: Biology and Ecology of Mudskippers (CRC Marine Science)

Mudskippers are amphibious fishes native to the Indo-West Pacific and tropical western Africa. Unlike most fishes, mudskippers emerse to forage, find mates, and defend territories. Adaptations to their morphology, physiology and behavior enable mudskippers to accommodate both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. For these traits, mudskippers have long captured the fascination of scientists, naturalists, and fish hobbyists. Some mudskipper taxa (e.g. __Periophthalmodon__ spp., __Periophthalmus__ spp., __Boleophthalmus__ spp.) are readily observed on mudflats and mangrove forests during the ebb tide. Correspondingly, these conspicuous and widespread taxa are relatively well-studied. The autecology and basic biology for the remaing taxa (e.g. __Apocryptodon__ spp. and __Oxuderces__ spp.) are still poorly understood. **Fishes Out of Water: Biology and Ecology of Mudskippers** is the first comprehensive book to synthesize published scientific information and observation on these fishes. Two dozen subject experts present thorough overviews in fifteen distinct chapters. Contents span mudskipper anatomy, distribution, systematics, physiology, ecology, and conservation. Unique adaptations to terrestriality are discussed within the context of each chapter foci. This authoritative reference equips the reader with the basic foundation to understand mudskipper biology and ecology, while providing a framework in which emerging data are discussed. The book will be of interest to a broad range of students, researchers, and professionals in ichthyology, evolution, ecology, animal behavior, and comparative physiology. Cover -- Half title page -- Series page -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Dedication page -- Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- Contributors -- Chapter 1: Taxonomy and Systematics Review -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Historical Accounts of Oxudercine Gobies -- 1.3 Higher Level Relationships -- 1.4 Sister-Group Relationships -- 1.5 Relationships Among Genera -- 1.6 Species Accounts -- Apocryptes Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1837 -- Apocryptes Bato (Hamilton 1822) -- Apocryptodon Bleeker 1874 -- Apocryptodon Madurensis (Bleeker 1849) -- Apocryptodon Punctatus Tomiyama 1934 -- Apocryptodon Wirzi Koumans 1937 -- Boleophthalmus Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1837 -- Boleophthalmus Birdsongi Murdy 1989 -- Boleophthalmus Boddarti (Pallas 1770) -- Boleophthalmus Caeruleomaculatus Mcculloch and Waite 1918 -- Boleophthalmus Dussumieri Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1837 -- Boleophthalmus Pectinirostris (Linnaeus 1758) -- Boleophthalmus Poti Polgar, Jaafar and Konstantinidis 2013 -- Oxuderces Eydoux and Souleyet 1850 -- Oxuderces Dentatus Eydoux and Souleyet 1850 -- Oxuderces Nexipinnis (Cantor 1849) -- Parapocryptes Bleeker 1874 -- Parapocryptes Rictuosus (Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1837) -- Parapocryptes Serperaster (Richardson 1846) -- Periophthalmodon Bleeker 1874 -- Periophthalmodon Freycineti (Quoy and Gaimard 1824) -- Periophthalmodon Schlosseri (Pallas 1770) -- Periophthalmodon Septemradiatus (Hamilton 1822) -- Periophthalmus Bloch and Schneider 1801 -- Periophthalmus Argentilineatus Valenciennes in Cuvier and Valenciennes 1837 -- Periophthalmus Barbarus (Linnaeus 1766) -- Periophthalmus Chrysospilos Bleeker 1853 -- Periophthalmus Darwini Larson and Takita 2004 -- Periophthalmus Gracilis Eggert 1935 -- Periophthalmus Kalolo Lesson 1831 -- Periophthalmus Magnuspinnatus Lee, Choi, and Ryu 1995 "Mudskippers are amphibious fishes native to the Indo-West Pacific and tropical western Africa. Unlike most fishes, mudskippers emerse to forage, find mates, and defend territories. Adaptations to their morphology, physiology and behavior enable mudskippers to accommodate both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. For these traits, mudskippers have long captured the fascination of scientists, naturalists, and fish hobbyists. Some mudskipper taxa (e.g. Periophthalmodon spp., Periophthalmus spp., Boleophthalmus spp.) are readily observed on mudflats and mangrove forests during the ebb tide. Correspondingly, these conspicuous and widespread taxa are relatively well-studied. The autecology and basic biology for the remaing taxa (e.g. Apocryptodon spp. and Oxuderces spp.) are still poorly understood. Fishes Out of Water: Biology and Ecology of Mudskippers is the first comprehensive book to synthesize published scientific information and observation on these fishes. Two dozen subject experts present thorough overviews in fifteen distinct chapters. Contents span mudskipper anatomy, distribution, systematics, physiology, ecology, and conservation. Unique adaptations to terrestriality are discussed within the context of each chapter foci. This authoritative reference equips the reader with the basic foundation to understand mudskipper biology and ecology, while providing a framework in which emerging data are discussed. The book will be of interest to a broad range of students, researchers, and professionals in ichthyology, evolution, ecology, animal behavior, and comparative physiology."--Provided by publisher Chapter 1. Taxonomy and systematics review / Edward O. Murdy and Zeehan Jaafar -- chapter 2. The natural distribution of mudskippers / Lynne R. Parenti and Zeehan Jaafar -- chapter 3. Early development of mudskippers / Ken Maeda, Yuko Tsuhako, and Katsunori Tachihara -- chapter 4. Age and growth / Atsushi Nanami -- chapter 5. Respiratory and circulatory adaptations / Atsushi Ishimatsu -- chapter 6. Structure and function of sensory organs / Michał Kuciel, Krystyna Żuwała, Eugenia R. Lauriano, Gianluca Polgar, Stefano Malavasi, and Giacomo Zaccone -- chapter 7. Nitrogen metabolism and nitrogenous waste excretion / Shit F. Chew and Yuen K. Ip -- chapter 8. Aquatic and terrestrial locomotion / Cinnamon Pace -- chapter 9. Review of reproductive strategies / Karen L.M. Martin and Atsushi Ishimatsu -- chapter 10. Feeding behavior: a review / David Clayton -- chapter 11. Territoriality and courtship behavior / David Clayton and Kathy Townsend -- chapter 12. Emergent patterns in spatio-temporal ecology / Gianluca Polgar -- chapter 13. Care and management in captivity / Richard Mleczko and Hans-Georg Rupp -- chapter 14. Taxa and habitat conservation / Beth Polidoro -- chapter 15. Challenges and future research : an Australian perspective / Helen K. Larson. Mudskippers are excellent model organisms for comparative physiological and morphological studies on terrestrial adaptations. This book should appeal to a broad range of students, researchers, and professionals in ichthyology, evolution, ecology, animal behavior, and comparative physiology.