Among the most curious fish in the world, there is a kind that can live in both water and land. It is a true survivor who challenges the traditional idea that these animals belong only to the aquatic environment, managing to survive as a ‘out of water’ fish.
An amphibian among the fish
The Mudskipper fish, known in Portugal as Lama Fish, is known for its incredible ability to prosper in two distinct environments. Inhabits manga zones and tidal plains, places where water and mud meet, according to the magazine specializing in Science National Geographic.
Thanks to its strong pectoral fins, this fish can “walk” over muddy surfaces, moving unusually to a marine animal.
Fish with breathing also out of water
Unlike most species, lama fish can breathe through the skin and coating of the mouth and throat, refers to the same source. This adaptation allows you to survive out of water for long periods, an essential feature for life in areas where the tide is always changing.
Protruding eyes and peculiar behavior
With its protruding eyes and almost ‘playful’ movements, the lama fish is easily recognizable. Its unusual appearance draws attention, but it is its way of life that most surprises the researchers.
These fish build burrows in the mud, which function as a shelter and also as a place of reproduction, refers to the previously mentioned source.
An example of extreme adaptation
The way the lama fish has adapted to such a demanding habitat makes it one of the most fascinating fish for science. His life between two worlds, aquatic and terrestrial, shows how much evolution can go to ensure survival.
Mating ritual
In tropical intertidal zones, lama fish star in one of the most unusual mating rituals in the marine world. During the reproductive season, the male is exuberantly displayed, shaking the fins and jumping in the air to impress the female, which follows him to a ninker chamber excavated in the mud.
The nest, built by the male, has an air bag on the vaulted ceiling, where the female lays the eggs. After fertilization, she leaves the site and the male assumes parental care alone. To maintain the oxygen necessary, it repeatedly rises to the surface, swallows air and transports it back to the chamber.
According to researcher Karen LM Martin, quoted by, a male can perform “approximately 100 ‘full’ mouths” of air to create the appropriate conditions for incubation. This process requires constant surveillance of the tides and the right time to free the bubble. When water enters and eggs hatch, fingerlings abandon the camera and follow their way. In this cycle, the male proves to be a true “affectionate father”, as Martin describes, ensuring the survival of the new generation.
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