mudskipper

[ muhd-skip-er ]

noun

1. any of several gobies of the genera Periophthalmus and Boleophthalmus, of tropical seas from Africa to the East Indies and Japan, noted for the habit of remaining out of water on mud flats for certain periods and jumping about when disturbed.

mudskipper

/ ˈmʌdˌskɪpə /

noun

1. any of various gobies of the genus Periophthalmus and related genera that occur in tropical coastal regions of Africa and Asia and can move on land by means of their strong pectoral fins

Word History and Origins

Origin of mudskipper¹

First recorded in 1855–60; mud + skipper ²

Example Sentences

It quickly became clear that federally funded researchers would put just about anything on a treadmill: turkeys, turtles, a mountain lion and even the mudskipper fish.

From Washington Times

Pong had never thought about escaping Namwon before, but now the opportunity lurched up like a mudskipper and slapped him across the face with its tail.

From Literature

There’s the fact that our protagonist is called James Pond, in what appears to be an unwitting reference to the series of ’90s video games based on an anthropomorphic mudskipper of the same name.

From The Verge

The researchers used robotics, mathematical models and several live mudskipper fish to explore movement under different types of conditions, including flat, sandy terrains and inclines that mimic the slopes animals encounter when they climb ashore.

From Wall Street Journal

The mudskipper moves various bones to produce its on-land suction — and these facial contortions are different from those used by suction-feeding fish in water.

From Nature