Fascinating Video of Walking Fish Approaching Food Goes Viral

KOMPAS.com – Video of fish approaching someone carrying food viral on social media.

Uniquely, these fish can walk on the mud when approaching the food.

Many netizens say that it is similar to stories in fairy tales. This is because the fish approaches the food owner when a song is hummed.

It is not clear whether the fish approached because of the hum of the song or because of the food that was given.

“I just saw a fish like that, ka,” wrote one comment.

“I often find this fish when I go to grandma’s house, this fish is very agile, it’s not playing, it can walk on land too fast,” said another netizen.

So, what kind of fish is it? Is it true that these fish can walk on land?

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Glodok fish

Researcher from the Oceanographic Research Center of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) M Reza Cordova said that the fish in the video is a glodok fish or kembangul.

This fish is also often known as the mudskipper.

Glodok fish have the ability to walk on mud.

“This fish is a type of amphibian and its ability to walk from its pectoral fins,” said Reza when contacted by Kompas.com, Saturday (8/7/2023).

It’s just that, Reza could not confirm the type of glodok fish. Because the fish in the video are not clearly visible.

“I don’t know what kind it is because (in the video) it is not very clear. There are more than 30 types of this glodok fish. Usually these fish live in mangrove areas which tend to be muddy,” explained Reza.

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Initially, Reza admitted that he was quite surprised when the glodok fish approached the feeder.

Because, characteristically, the glodok fish is a type of fish that is afraid of humans.

“In general, these fish are afraid of humans. So if there is someone, he will run away. Maybe the one who feeds him is normal. So he is relatively “known” to the glodok fish in the video,” he said.

According to Reza, the glodok fish is included in carnivorous animals (meat eaters). Glodok fish food is small fish, small sand crabs, shrimp.

In fact, some studies state that the glodok fish eat flies and ants.

“In addition, these fish eat a small portion of plants in the mangroves, including moss,” Reza added.

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A fish that can walk on mud

Reza explained, the glodok fish is able to walk on mud because it has two fins on its chest.

Both fins are composed of muscle tissue that is strong enough and can be bent.

“So it also functions like an arm that can push or jump,” said Reza.

Glodok fish can also walk in mud or sand without water because they have gills that can store water.

“So you can see that the gills (which are under the eyes) are enlarged, and there is a layer of mucus from the mouth to the esophagus,” explained Reza.

In addition, the glodok fish also has an additional breathing apparatus in its skin.

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Separately, Lecturer in Aquatic Resource Management, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, IPB University, Dr. Mohammad Mukhlis Kamal explained, the two fins of the glodok fish function like legs.

“When moving in the mud, its pectoral fins function like legs, propelled by its tail fin,” explained Mukhlis, when contacted by Kompas.com, Saturday (8/7/2023).

When they come out of the hole, the gills of the glodok fish must be moist.

On the part of the gills there is an additional breathing apparatus so that it can extract oxygen from the air directly.

“Because of their ability to breathe like this, they are classified as air breathing fishes,” he said.

Taxonomically, the glodok fish belongs to the genus Priophthalmus, a member of the subfamily Oxudercinae, family Oxudercidae, order Gobioidea.

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2023-07-09 02:00:00
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