Which fish can “walk”?

Climbing perch, also called Walking Fish, (Anabas testudineus), small Asian freshwater fish of the family Anabantidae (order Perciformes) noted for its ability to live and walk about out of water. The climbing perch is an air-breathing labyrinth fish. Rather oblong, brownish or green, it grows to about 25 cm (10 inches).

It lives in ponds and ditches and sometimes emerges for short periods, “walking” with a jerky motion, aided by its tail and by spines on the lower edges of its gill covers.

More Info: www.britannica.com

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13 Comments

Ilias Tsiabardas

The Name itself gives the answer

Jas Newman

Looking for mudskipper—used to see them whenever the tide ebbed in the Seychelles..

Julie Allen

The ABC reports that climbing perch (Anabas testudineus) that can survive several days out of the water, travel across dry land and choke birds and other fish could enter Australia from Papua New Guinea.What is remarkable about the climbing perch, is its ability to survive. It’s a freshwater fish, but can survive in salty water. As a labyrinth fish, it has the capacity breathe air provided its labyrinth organ is kept moist allowing it to survive for prolonged periods, potentially up to weeks, on land. It may also bury into the mud to hibernate, reportedly being able to survive up to six months in this manner.

dmarkc

Nothing mentioned about them climbing palm trees. I've seen another climbing in bushes on the coast.

Tal Segal

At least 11 species of fish that can "walk" have been identified.

Wyla Reedy

There's also the "flying" fish.

earlepg

Alan Waites, The fact that the question is posed by brain l also helps with the answer.

Puppermom

I thought only Mudskippers could “walk.”

Alan Waites

Ilias Tsiabardas, i thought it was a joke name but knew it couldnt be any of the others.

Irene Townsend

Very interesting fish. Not mentioned if it's eatable or not. Good question all the same.

Carl Belken

During the flood of 2019 as the Mo River was receeding I watched fish " Walk" themselves across MO highway 94. The weird thing was that they were going in the wrong direction. They'd soon be cut off from the river in a day or so.

Joris van Pelt

The Climbing Perch Covers Distances of up to 590 ft (180 m) by Crawling With its Gill. It moves its body to and fro and drives its gill cover into the ground like an ice-pick.