A note from the Kumamoto International Desk of Animals that You Definitely Do Not Want to Be: the mudskipper. Going by the unexpectedly awesome Japanese name “tobihaze” (跳鯊, literally “jumping gobi” because they’re gobis which jump, leaping up to ten centimeters in the air, which might not sound impressive unless you consider they’re only 15 centimeters long and don’t have much of a running start), they make your life look oh so much better in comparison. They are numerous in the mudflats of Ariake Sea and are one of the few semi-terrestrial fish in the world. They dig burrows by swallowing mud and vomiting it up at the surface. At low tide, they emerge to roll in the mud and eat whatever yummy snacks the receding tide has deposited. (Note: their definition of “yummy” is quite different from anyone reading this post.) During mating season, the quite territorial males fight ferociously over their territory to gain access to what are likely slightly more hideous females as they lack the cool blue dorsal fins which make the guys oh-so sexy.
A good place to view them is amongst the mudflats surrounding Kumamoto Port, which offers free parking and quite an enjoyable park. - William
