Bangladesh, a nation defined by water, sediment, and tide, hosts one of the world’s most extensive and dynamic coastal ecosystems (Sultana et al., 2023). From the Sundarbans mangrove forest to intertidal mudflats along the Bay of Bengal, these transitional environments support a remarkable diversity of organisms uniquely adapted to fluctuating salinity, oxygen availability, and tidal rhythms (Uddin et al., 2021). Among the most extraordinary of these organisms are mudskippers (family Gobiidae, subfamily Oxudercinae), amphibious fishes that occupy the interface between land and sea. Despite their ecological importance, evolutionary significance, and cultural familiarity, mudskippers remain largely neglected in Bangladesh’s fisheries research, biodiversity assessments, and conservation planning (Bhuyan et al., 2024; Corush et al., 2022).

Mudskippers are globally renowned for their ability to breathe air, move actively on land, and exploit ecological niches inaccessible to most fishes. In Bangladesh, several species—including Periophthalmus argentilineatus, Periophthalmodon schlosseri, and Boleophthalmus boddarti—inhabit mangrove creeks, estuarine mudflats, and tidal riverbanks. These species are particularly abundant in the Sundarbans and along coastal districts such as Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Cox’s Bazar, and Noakhali (Bhuyan et al., 2024; Siddique et al., 2024). Yet, despite their visibility and abundance, mudskippers are rarely treated as focal species in national biodiversity discourse.

From an ecological perspective, mudskippers play a pivotal role in intertidal ecosystem functioning. As benthic feeders, many species graze on microalgae, diatoms, detritus, and small invertebrates, thereby regulating primary productivity and nutrient cycling within mudflat systems (Yang et al., 2003). Their burrowing behavior aerates sediments, enhances biogeochemical exchange, and influences microbial communities, much like earthworms do in terrestrial soils (Dinh and Nguyen, 2023). In mangrove ecosystems such as the Sundarbans, these activities contribute to sediment stability and nutrient availability, indirectly supporting mangrove productivity and resilience.

Mudskippers also occupy a critical position in estuarine food webs. They serve as prey for birds, reptiles, and larger fishes, linking benthic productivity to higher trophic levels. Migratory shorebirds, many of which rely on Bangladesh’s intertidal habitats during seasonal movements, depend on mudflat productivity sustained partly by mudskipper activity (Elviana et al., 2019). Any decline in mudskipper populations may therefore trigger cascading effects across trophic networks, with implications for biodiversity far beyond the fish themselves. Beyond their ecological function, mudskippers represent a fascinating model for evolutionary and physiological research. Their amphibious lifestyle—characterized by cutaneous respiration, modified gill chambers, and limb-like pectoral fins—offers insights into the evolutionary transition from aquatic to terrestrial life (Kutschera and Elliott, 2013). In a country like Bangladesh, where biodiversity research infrastructure is steadily developing, mudskippers could serve as accessible, locally abundant model organisms for studies in evolutionary biology, ecophysiology, and climate adaptation. Unfortunately, such research remains scarce, with most regional studies limited to taxonomic listings or brief ecological observations.

Despite their adaptability, mudskippers are increasingly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures. Coastal Bangladesh is undergoing rapid transformation driven by population growth, industrialization, aquaculture expansion, and climate change (Frandsen and Falk, 2025). Shrimp farming, in particular, has led to widespread conversion of natural mudflats and mangroves into enclosed ponds, drastically reducing suitable habitat for mudskippers (Hossain et al., 2013). Pollution from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and plastic waste further degrades intertidal environments, affecting sediment quality and food availability (Biswas et al., 2021). Climate change poses an additional, multifaceted threat. Sea-level rise, altered tidal regimes, increased salinity intrusion, and extreme weather events such as cyclones can disrupt the delicate balance of intertidal ecosystems. While mudskippers are often perceived as resilient due to their physiological flexibility, resilience has limits (Chakrabarty et al., 2025; Nay et al., 2018; Ikebe and Oishi, 1997). Changes in sediment composition, prolonged inundation, or loss of emergent mudflat areas may exceed their adaptive capacity. Moreover, climate-driven shifts in mangrove distribution could alter the spatial availability of suitable habitats, forcing population declines or local extinctions (Al-Fares and Al-Zaidan, 2025; Ishimatsu et al., 1998).

Another overlooked issue is the absence of mudskippers from fisheries statistics and conservation frameworks. In Bangladesh, fishery management and biodiversity conservation efforts overwhelmingly focus on commercially valuable species (Rahman et al., 2021). Mudskippers, which have limited direct market value and are not widely consumed, fall outside these priorities. As a result, their populations are neither monitored nor assessed, and their habitats receive little targeted protection outside designated areas like the Sundarbans Reserve Forest. This neglect is problematic, as the loss of non-commercial species can undermine ecosystem integrity and, ultimately, the sustainability of economically important fisheries. Public perception also plays a role in this marginalization. Mudskippers are often viewed as curiosities rather than integral components of coastal ecosystems. However, reframing mudskippers as “sentinel species” of intertidal health could shift this narrative. Because they are highly sensitive to changes in sediment quality, pollution, and hydrological conditions, mudskippers can serve as bioindicators of environmental degradation. Monitoring their abundance, behavior, and distribution could provide early warning signals of ecosystem stress in Bangladesh’s vulnerable coastal zones (Ansari et al., 2014).

Integrating mudskippers into national research and conservation agendas would require relatively modest investment with potentially high returns. Baseline surveys to document species distribution, population trends, and habitat associations are urgently needed. Such data could be incorporated into coastal zone management plans and environmental impact assessments, particularly for aquaculture and industrial development projects. Universities and research institutes could leverage mudskippers as focal species for student training and interdisciplinary research, fostering local expertise in coastal ecology. Community engagement is equally important. Coastal communities in Bangladesh interact daily with mudskipper habitats, even if they do not consciously recognize their ecological value. Awareness programs highlighting the role of mudskippers in maintaining healthy mudflats and mangroves could strengthen community support for habitat conservation.

Mudskippers in Bangladesh are far more than amphibious oddities skittering across tidal flats. They are engineers of sedimentary ecosystems, connectors of food webs, indicators of environmental change, and living windows into evolutionary history. Their continued neglect reflects a broader tendency to undervalue non-commercial species that nonetheless underpin ecosystem stability. As Bangladesh faces escalating coastal challenges in the era of climate change, recognizing and protecting mudskippers is not merely a matter of biodiversity appreciation—it is an investment in the resilience of the nation’s tidal frontier.

Acknowledgements

The author gratefully acknowledges the logistic support provided by the Research and Development Wing, Genesis Research Consultancy Limited Navaron, Jashore, Bangladesh.

Funding information

No funding was received to conduct this study.

Ethical approval statement

None to declare.

Data availability

Not applicable.

Informed consent statement

Not applicable.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Authors’ contribution

Abdulla-Al-Asif contributed to the conceptualization and writing of this editorial. The author has read and approved the final version of the published editorial.