Category: Fish
This distinctive ray is native to the Xingu River basin in Brazil, a tributary of the Amazon River. They are thought to dwell primarily on rocky river bottoms. They are very rare species and are threatened by habitat loss due to an increase in gold-mining, fisheries, logging, agriculture expansion, and dam construction in its Xingu River Basin home.
The fish that could drown (and other amazing tales)
Fish are masters of aquatic living, though some manage to do pretty well on land, too! Of living species, the mudskipper is probably the best adapted to life out of water - in fact, a mudskipper will drown if it can’t periodically come to the surface! This unusual fish uses its powerful, almost leg-like fins to walk on land and can even use them to “skip” up to 2 feet in the air! Similar to many amphibians, the mudskipper is able to breathe through its skin and the linings of its mouth and throat. It also seals water in its gill chambers when it leaves the water for extended stays on the land, much like a scuba diver brings air with them!-
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