30/05/2026
Mudskippers are fully amphibious fish that have evolved specialized traits to extract oxygen when the Sundarbans tides recede
Before stepping onto land, the fish gulps water and air, closing its gill slits tightly using a specialized valve. This traps a bubble of oxygenated water inside its enlarged gill chambers, acting like a scuba tank in reverse.
The fish absorbs oxygen directly through its highly vascularized skin, mouth, and throat linings. This process only works if the mudskipper stays wet, which is why they frequently roll in the mud or stay near the water's edge.
