Periophthalmus waltoni Koumans, 1941
Walton's mudskipper
photo by Dab, K.

Family:  Oxudercidae (Mudskippers), subfamily: Periophthalminae
Max. size:  15 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Persian Gulf to Pakistan.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 10-13; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 10-11. Distinguished by the following characteristics: moderate to strong frenum uniting pelvic fins; medially, pelvic fins united for about one half their length; D I height moderate, its margin slightly rounded, no stripe on fin with only a few white spots posteriorly, no elongate spines; D2 with single dusky stripe inframarginally; dorsal fins not connected by membrane; D I with 10-13 spines; longitudinal scale count 91-121; head width 13.7-21.9% SL; pelvic fin length 11.8-13.9% SL; length of anal fin base 16.2-21.0% SL; length ofD2 base 23.2-27.2% SL; total D2 elements 13-14; total anal fin elements 11-12; TRDB 21-28 (Ref. 5218).
Biology:  Found on mud flats. Amphibious air-breather (Ref. 31184). Feeds on variety of ocypodid crabs (Ref. 92840).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 June 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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