Amphibious fish

About 11 distantly related genera of fish are considered amphibious.

This suggests that many fish genera independently evolved amphibious traits, a process known as convergent evolution.

These fish use a range of methods for land movement, such as lateral undulation, tripod-like walking (using paired fins and tail), and jumping.

Many of these methods of locomotion incorporate multiple combinations of pectoral-, pelvic-, and tail-fin movement.

In most recent fish species, though, these organs evolved into the swim bladders, which help control buoyancy.

Mudskippers ( Periophthalmus gracilis shown) are among the most land adapted of fish (excepting, from a cladistic perspective, tetrapods ), and are able to spend days moving about out of water.