This 1918 Liberian stamp features a mudskipper, a fish native to this west African country.
There are 32 living species of mudskipper, which are amphibious fishes that occur in tropical areas
Pictured is the Atlantic mudskipper (Periophthalmus barbarus), the only species on the west African coast.
It is a widespread species, occurring along the sub-Saharan costs of Africa, around the Indian Ocean, and onto the Pacific islands as far east and north as Guam.
Mudskippers as a group live around the world in tropical areas. They are amphibius, living part of each day out of water. They are most commonly associated with mangrove swamps, where they may walk using their front (pectoral) fins on the mudflats, and even climb the mangroves for short distances.
They are carnivorous and primarily eat invertebrates, including insects. None of them grow over a foot long (31 cm).
They breathe out of water not by taking in air, but by keeping water in the space around their gills. This keeps them tied to the water, as they have to replace that water once it’s depleted of oxygen.
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