Fishes Out of Water: Biology and Ecology of Mudskippers

Highly recommended by CHOICE (January 2018 Vol. 55 No. 5) for upper-division undergraduates and above; professionals and practitioners. This book is devoted to the biology of a distinct evolutionary group of fishes that belong to the family Gobiidae. The mudskippers are amphibious and are adapted for life on mudflats and mangrove forests. The 43 species are primarily found in the tropics of the Indo-West Pacific, but one species inhabits the Eastern Atlantic tropics. Much of their lives are spent out of the water where they find food, defend territories, breed, and construct tunnels to their nests. Although mudskippers have attracted the attention of biologists since the 17th century, this volume constitutes the first comprehensive review. The 15 chapters contain up-to-date information on mudskipper anatomy, physiology, distribution, systematics, ecology, and conservation. The illustrations, consisting of colored photos and full-page distribution maps, are of the highest quality. The 24 authors are recognized authorities within their special areas. The book is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Toru Takita, a pioneer in mudskipper study. Overall, this beautiful book is a tribute to its authors, editors, and CRC Press. --J. C. Briggs, Oregon State University This book is the first and only excellent synopsis of the actual knowledge on these strange but fascinating fishes. It is not only a valuable source for students and scientists involved in studies on mudskippers, but also for aquarists wanting to keep and breed these species. --Harro Hieronimus in Verlag Natur & Wissenschaft, July 2018