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.