Classification:

Perciformes

Features:

The body extension is slightly cylindrical; The eye is big and slightly prominent, and the ventral fin becomes a sucker. The fish body is grayish brown, the back is dark with small black spots, there are four vague gray-black wide horizontal bands on the side, and the abdomen is gray. The caudal fin is round.

Habit:

It is the most common fish species in estuaries, inhabiting coastal areas, estuaries or mangroves and other areas with sandy sediment and relatively gentle water flow. Digging holes and burrowing, it is not easy to swim, crawling and jumping by pectoral fins, belonging to benthic fish, which has obvious migration characteristics with the change of salinity. Carnivorous, mainly zooplankton and small benthic invertebrates.

Distribution:

South Japan, South Korea to Hongkong, including South, North and West Taiwan Province.

Perciformes (Perciformes) A general term for about 6 species of small tropical fishes of Periophthalmidae. Indo-Pacific (from Africa to Polynesia and Australia). Living in swamps and estuaries and on mudflats, it is famous for climbing and jumping outside the water. It is long and can reach about 30 cm (12 inch), with two dorsal fins. The ventral fin is located in the front of the body and partially or completely healed. The head is blunt, and there are two big eyes that are close together and can rotate on the top of the head. The pectoral fin base is thick and strong, which helps to move on land. Breathe air and moisture in gill cavity outside water. Prey on crustaceans and other small animals.

Like large mudskippers, mudskippers can live on land for a long time. If you swim out of the water regularly, you will die.

Unlike the mudskippers belonging to the genus Periophthalmus, mudskippers can only live in mud. They can also be found on rocks and wood blocks near the coast. Like the mudskippers, they also have two flexible eyes on their heads, but they are smaller than the mudskippers.

In China's coastal high tide area or brackish estuary and tidal flat area, there is a small fish with a body length of only tens of millimeters, and its head is large and square; Eyes protruding and able to rotate; There is a muscle stalk at the base of pectoral fin, which can be used as an organ to support and crawl on land; The more the left and right ventral fins are combined into a sucker.

Mud-coated fish have the habit of foraging out of water, whenever the tide ebbs. It often relies on the pectoral fin muscle stalk to crawl and jump on the mud to feed, or climb to the rocks and red bushes to prey on insects, or climb to the rocks to bask in the sun. When it comes out of the water, the developed gill chamber is filled with air, and the tail is immersed in the water for auxiliary breathing. Living out of water has become its important habit. It can move as lively as a lizard on land, and the pectoral fin muscle handle can move back and forth freely, playing the role of reptile forelimb. In order to strengthen the ability of crawling on land, the gluteal fin becomes very low and the fins of the lower leaves of the caudal fin become thicker. There are steps in the mud painting, and each step must be coordinated with the forward movement of the pectoral fin, that is, first step on the ground with the pectoral fin, and then drag the body forward, and the pace repeats quickly. When the pectoral fin moves forward, the ventral fin plays a role in supporting the body. When it is jumping for a short distance, it only depends on the activity of pectoral fins; When jumping more than one meter, it must be assisted by the tail tapping on the ground. When it is impatient or frightened, it will make a long-distance jump. Whenever the tide ebbs, you can see mudskippers jumping around and chasing each other on the beach. The visual acuity of mudskippers is very sensitive, and they will jump back into the water or drill into caves and rock crevices when they are slightly disturbed.

Boleophthalmus petinirostris, also known as Jumping Fish and periophthalmus, belongs to the family Reptilidae of Perciformes. There are two kinds, one is commonly known as Hualan, with a body length of12-45 cm, bluish blue, and small stars all over the back, which is of good quality and delicious; The other one, commonly known as Kallan, is less than 10 cm long, with hard bones and a little bitter taste. Mud-coated fish are all produced in the coastal areas of China, and they can be produced in ordinary times, especially in summer and autumn. The coastal beaches of our city are fertile and suitable for the growth and reproduction of mud-coated fish. Taking Shacun village in ouhai district as an example, villagers catch mudskippers on beaches, with an annual catch of about 50 tons. There are two kinds of fresh food and dried crystal, both of which are famous dishes at the banquet. It has the effects of nourishing liver and kidney and healing wounds. Because of its tender meat, rich oil and high economic value, the mudskipper is widely welcomed by consumers. At present, some areas in our city are beginning to carry out artificial experimental breeding, and if it is successful, more mudskippers will be listed for supply.

[Morphological characteristics] The body is cylindrical, with a general body length of10 ~ 20m cm and a weight of 20 ~ 50g. The eye is small, protruding above the back edge of the head, the lower eyelid is developed, and the mouth is in the end position. There are teeth in each jaw 1 row, the maxillary teeth are tapered, and the three teeth on each side in front are canine-shaped. The mandibular teeth are inclined outward, almost lying. The back is dark brown. The abdomen is gray. There are six black strips on the back, with irregular green-brown spots and two dorsal fins all over the body, and the 1 dorsal fin is very small. There are only 5 fin spines, and the end of the fin spines is filiform, of which the third spine is the longest; The second dorsal fin and gluteal fin are both long, and their lengths are roughly equal. The caudal fin is wedge-shaped and wide, the second dorsal fin has three usual gray-white horizontal lines, and the pectoral fin has a yellow-green insect pattern, which is very colorful.

How to eat:

Soup and bittern are the most delicious for family consumption, and they are also suitable for steaming, braising or cooking fish.

mudskipper

Bullet coating is a special kind of fish, which lives longer on land than in water. They live in the Indian Ocean-Pacific region and the Atlantic coast of Africa. Mud-coated fish will be very active after leaving the water.