ABSTRACT
Mudskippers have been observed and recorded in Australia since 1770, but surprisingly little work has been carried out on their natural history and ecology. Australian mudskipper species occur in mangroves and on mudflats from Shark Bay, Western Australia, to Brisbane, Queensland. The most recent review of northern Australian amphibious mudskippers is that of Takita et al., which summarizes the natural history of nine of the 13 known species. Of the seven Australian–New Guinea endemic species, only the three Australian ones have been studied in any detail as to habitat requirements and life history. Another issue is that of "health and safety", which seems straightforward, but Australia's Commonwealth and state governments have a range of rules, overseen by Safe Work Australia, which must be tracked. In Australia, mangrove destruction is mostly due to clearing associated with coastal development.
