Territorial acquisition in the mudskipper Boleophthalmus boddarti (Teleostei, Gobiidae) on the mudflats of Kuwait

Abstract

Boleophthalmus boddarti is an amphibious gobiid mudskipper which builds and maintains mud‐walled polygonal territories on the mudflats of Kuwait. The factors that influence territorial establishment and acquisition were investigated by observation and by the removal of resident fish and/or removal of territorial boundary walls. Smaller replacement fish quickly occupied vacant territories with and without walls, although the latter were sometimes occupied by several small non‐territorial or errant individuals. Resettlement patterns (simultaneous or consecutive) had little effect in altering the size or shape of territories. These results are discussed in relation to other fish removal experiments.

Mudskippers brood their eggs in air but submerge them for hatching

“…Although spawning in burrows affords egg protection, the severe hypoxia of burrow water raises the question of what mechanisms are used to ensure adequate O 2 for developing mudskipper eggs (Gordon, 1995). Mudskipper burrows often have one or more horizontal or upturned chambers near their terminus where monolayers of fertilized eggs develop (Brillet, 1976;Clayton and Vaughan, 1986;Kobayashi et al, 1971). Recent studies document an air-deposition behaviour by burrow-guarding mudskippers in the field (Ishimatsu et al, 1998;Ishimatsu et al, 2000) and in artificial laboratory burrows (Lee et al, 2005), prompting the hypothesis that eggs are spawned and develop within a burrow's air-containing space.…”

History and current checklist of Kuwait's ichthyofauna

“…comm., 30 March 2000). Additionally, these Dussumier's mudskippers live sympatrically with two other mudskipper species: Walton's mudskipper, Periophthalmus waltoni, and the Indian Ocean slender mudskipper, Scartelaos tenuis (Clayton & Vaughan, 1988). This association is also of global significance (D. Jones, pers.…”

“…It is now clear from Al-Hassan et al 's (1988) work that at least two species of catfish were involved. Other studies of Kuwait's fishes include noncommercial species (Clayton & Vaughan, 1986Clayton & Wright, 1989;Wright, 1989a;Ismail & Clayton, 1990) and shallow water assemblages (Wright, 1988a(Wright, , b, 1989bWright et al, 1990Wright et al, , 1996Abou-Seedo et al 1990;Abou-Seedo, 1992).…”

Surface activity in the mudskipper,Periophthalmus waltoniKoumans 1941 in relation to prey activity and environmental factors

“…A YSI Tele-thermometer, model 44TD equipped with Model 401 thermister probes was used to measure the temperature of the air at a height of 2 cm, the surface mud and standing water, and the mudskipper's burrow at a depth of 10 cm. The burrow temperature also reflects that experienced by the crabs since it is common for crab burrows to join those of the fish (CLAYTON & VAUGHAN 1986). Additionally, wind speed (m/sec) was measured with an Aneno (Casella, London) placed such that the revolving cups were at surface level.…”