The Atlantic mudskipper is a member of the genus Periophthalmus, which includes oxudercine gobies that have one row of canine-like teeth.

Similar to other members of the genus, it has dorsally positioned eyes and pectoral fins that aid in locomotion on land and in water.

Atlantic mudskippers are semi-aquatic animals that occur on tidal flats and mangrove forests, where it readily crosses mud and sand surfaces out of the water.

Atlantic mudskippers are found throughout West Africa, in mangrove swamps, and primarily brackish bodies of water near the coast.

[1] Countries where the mudskipper are found include Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and Ghana.

The genus Periophthalmus can be identified from other genera of the Oxudercinae subfamily through the teeth, that are present in a single row along the upper jaw.

[7] In addition to retaining moisture by storing water, the surface of the Atlantic mudskipper enables it to breathe through its skin, otherwise known as cutaneous respiration.

[9] The pelvic fins are adapted to terrestrial living by acting as a sucker to attach the Atlantic mudskipper to land.

[14] Atlantic mudskippers have a short digestive system, that is composed of an oesophagus, stomach, intestine, and rectum.

[15] The Atlantic mudskipper has a unique olfactory organ that includes a canal 0.3mm in diameter near its upper lip that increases in size into a chamber-like sac.

The chamber-like sacs only serve a mechanical purpose, which is to circulate water through the canals, which are sensory structures.

[18] Atlantic mudskippers are semi-aquatic animals that live in areas with water that is slightly salty, such as river estuaries and mudflats.

[4] The Atlantic mudskipper is generally able to tolerate high concentrations of toxic substances produced by industrial waste, including cyanide and ammonia, in the surrounding environments.

[20] Hot and humid climates are optimal for Atlantic mudskippers as it enhances cutaneous respiration and helps them with maintaining their body temperature.

The territory is approximately 1 metre long and can aid in maintaining Atlantic mudskipper populations by storing food resources.

[22] While hunting, the Atlantic mudskipper submerges itself underwater whilst leaving its eyes out, using only sight to identify and locate prey.

[22] When Atlantic mudskippers are in danger from predation on land, they proceed into 'flight' behaviour and either jump in the water or skip away on mud.

[23] The Atlantic mudskipper carries water in their mouth prior to emerging on land, enabling them to feed.

[7] Suction-feeding involves building up pressure by expanding the head and mouth rapidly, which pulls both food and water in.

[25] Although the feeding technique is similar in both environments, the Atlantic mudskipper alters the force of suction, such that the flow underwater is stronger than on land.

[26] The Atlantic mudskippers feed more during dry season than wet, reflective of the optimal foraging theory, which proposes that diet flexibility increases with lower food availability.

[30] The fertility of Atlantic mudskippers increases with the length of their body, as females may be able to carry more eggs at larger sizes.

[29] After the female releases her eggs onto the burrow wall,[29] the male displays a large amount of paternal care.

[4] The digestive system, gills, and skin are common places of the Atlantic mudskipper that are contaminated by heavy metals, like copper and iron.

The Higaonons do not use unsustainable fishing methods and cyanide, in an effort to conserve the Atlantic mudskippers and other effected aquatic organisms in their area.

The current recommended conservation actions include managing the number of Atlantic mudskippers caught when fishing.