Diversity and abundance of mudskippers (gobiidae: oxudercinae) in Sabah

This study examined the diversity of mudskipper species in Sabah and estimate possible factors affecting their abundance. Desktop studies and fieldtrips were made to verify existence of mudskipper species in Sabah after taxonomic revision of Murdy. Abundance of mudskippers was studied between 4 study areas: A (Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre), B (Alamesra), C (UMS-ODEC), D (Marudu Bay) where the factors examined are water parameters (temperature, conductivity, salinity, DO, pH) and environmental conditions (exposure, structural element, sediment composition, vegetation coverage) of the habitat. Fieldwork was done between November 2014 to February 2015. A total of 24 specimens obtained from 4 locations (Alamesra, UMS-ODEC, Marudu Bay and Sandakan) were used to obtain morphometric and meristic data. The mudskipper species found in this study are: Boleophthalmus boddarti, Periophthalmodon schlosseri, Periophthalmus argentilineatus. Other gobioids and blennies obtained were examined for morphometric and meristic data and presented. The abundance of mudskipper population was found to be Significantly different between stations ׀A, B׀ and ׀C, D׀ (N=180, Fl,66.06=174.28, p