Morphometric identification of mudskippers recorded from the Cox’s Bazar coast, Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh: Challenges and recommendations

Mudskippers are amphibious fishes that can voluntarily leave the water and spend a considerable amount of time on the mudflats and are considered to have high ecological value in the mudflat environment. The present study was conducted in Cox’s Bazar coast to identify the mudskipper species. This study also points out the challenges in the field and provides possible recommendations. The mudskippers were collected from Rezu Khal, Inani, Patuartek, Imamer Dail, Monkhali, Shaplapur, Naf Jetty, Keari Ghat, and Shaporir Dwip during December 2023 to February 2024 by using cast net, thela jhal, scoop net and hand picking. Most of the samples were collected during low tide. A total of 15 mudskippers were recorded in this study and most of the species belong to the genus Periophthalmus (8 species) followed by Boleophthalmus (2 species), Periophthalmodon (2 species), Pseudapocryptes (1 species), Parapocryptes (1 species), and Apocryptodon (1 species). Boleophthalmus boddarti was found commonly distributed in all the stations, which is considered edible by a few coastal people and the Rohingya community. The size of this species is considerably bigger than the other recorded species and it can be farmed. Further, an extensive survey is needed to be undertaken in the other parts of Bangladesh coast to document more species and identify the species richness. It can be a possible component of the blue economy.