Histology and Morphometrics of the epidermis of the fins and sucking disc of the mudskipper,Periophtholmus modestus(Pisces, Gobiidae)

Genomics comparisons of three chromosome-level mudskipper genome assemblies reveal molecular clues for water-to-land evolution and adaptation

“…The air-breathing mudskippers deal with the dried condition on land through some relatively developed or modified structures, such as thick skin with abundant blood vessels [2] and a reduction or even absence of scales [57] , to improve gas exchange. Histology of the skin of BP [64] , [65] , PM [57] and PMO [66] reveals that they all present a reduction of scales, and their minute scales are located under the epidermis. It is therefore reasonable to propose difference of certain genes involved in scale formation between these mudskippers and other teleosts with normal scales.…”