Assessment of Species Diversity and Assemblage Patterns of Mudskippers (Gobiidae: Oxudercinae) in the Coastal Region of Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India
Prasun Maity
Department of Aquaculture, Sanjeev Agrawal Global Educational University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Mahendra Kumar Yadav
School of Agriculture, Sanjeev Agrawal Global Educational (SAGE) University, Bhopal, M.P., India.
Pijush Payra *
Department of Fisheries Science, Ramnagar College, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India.
Shriparna Saxsena
School of Agriculture, Sanjeev Agrawal Global Educational (SAGE) University, Bhopal, M.P., India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The present study examines species composition, ecological traits and temporal variation in mudskippers.
Study Design: The study was designed to investigate species diversity and assemblage patterns through a field survey. After field collection, samples were transported to the laboratory of the Department of Fisheries Science, Ramnagar College, Depal, Ramnagar, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, for further study.
Place and Duration of the Study: The present study was conducted in the coastal areas of Purba Medinipur over a five-month period (August-December 2025).
Methodology: Samples were collected weekly for five months. Live specimens were kept in plastic jars with perforated lids to ensure normal breathing. The collected samples were promptly transported to the laboratory for further examination.
Results: Five mudskipper species, namely Pseudapocryptes elongatus, Periophthalmus novemradiatus, Periophthalmus variabilis, Periophthalmus waltoni and Apocryptes bato, were identified in the study region, indicating moderate species diversity. Weekly occurrence data showed temporal variation in species distribution, which may be associated with environmental factors such as temperature, salinity, tidal cycles and habitat conditions. Conservation status assessment showed that most species were classified as Least Concern (LC). However, Periophthalmus novemradiatus was categorised as Data Deficient (DD), indicating the need for further study of its population status and conservation requirements. The Shannon index (H') peaked in September, indicating comparatively higher diversity during that month. Simpson's index (1-D) suggested low dominance, whereas evenness (J') values close to 1 in most months indicated relatively uniform species distribution.
Conclusion: Periophthalmus variabilis and Apocryptes bato exhibited comparatively higher and more consistent occurrence among the five recorded species, whereas the other species showed irregular distribution patterns that may reflect habitat specificity or sensitivity to environmental change. None of the identified species was reported as harmful to humans, supporting their ecological relevance in coastal and estuarine ecosystems.
Keywords: Mudskippers, Oxudercinae, Gobiidae, species diversity, assemblage pattern, coastal mudflats, temporal variation, diversity indices, estuarine ecosystem, conservation status