mudskipper

Mudskippers are any of the 25 extant species of amphibious fish from the subfamily Oxudercinae of the goby family Oxudercidae. They are known for their unusual body shapes, preferences for semiaquatic habitats, limited terrestrial locomotion and jumping, and the ability to survive prolonged periods of time both in and out of water.

Mudskippers can grow up to long, and most are a brownish green colour that ranges anywhere from dark to light. During mating seasons, the males will also develop brightly coloured spots in order to attract females, which can be red, green or blue. Unlike other fish, the mudskipper's eyes protrude from the top of its flat head. Another notable feature is that their side pectoral fins are located more forward and underneath their elongated bodies. These fins are jointed and function similarly to limbs, which allow the mudskipper to crawl from place to place. Although they have the typical body form of any other gobiid fish, pectoral fins allow the mudskipper to actively "skip" across muddy surfaces (hence the common name) and even climb low-hanging tree branches and scrub. Mudskippers can leap distances of up to by laterally flexing and pushing with their tails.