BEHAVIOURAL STUDIES OF BOLEOPHTHALMUS DUSSUMIERI (VAL., 1837) ON THE SILTED INTERTIDAL MUDFLATS OF ULHAS RIVER ESTUARY

Ulhas River Estuary (URE) sediment is highly silted. Boleophthalmus dussumieri (Val., 1837) is a mudskipper species of a common occurrence on the intertidal mudflats developed on either banks of URE. The present study recorded the various activities like burrow construction, feeding, territoriality and courtship, of B. dussumieri using scan and focal sampling method on the surface during tidal movements on the exposed mudflats of URE near Kolshet creek. Although the breeding and territoriality of B. dussumieri being normal, the other behavioral activities such as courtship, construction of burrows and survivorship were different as compared to the earlier observations by various experts. Breeding pairs preferred to develop burrows at spring tide limits. Burrows lacked chimneys and pit-pools. Juveniles remained without burrows and were found to secure position by penetration in loose soil during flood tide. Feeding on muddy surface was performed by strange straining behaviour.Published in International Journal of Advance and Innovative Research Volume 6, Issue 1 (XXXV): January - March, 2019 PART - 2 , ISSN: 2394 - 778