Fish That Can Walk in the Sea and on Land

[FAM Times reporter Park Ju-hye] Fins help fish swim. But a pink frogmouth species called Chaunax pictus also uses them like feet.

Chaunax pictus bears a curious resemblance to a four-legged amphibian and is often called a sea toad. This fish was found near Puerto Rico.

The pink frogmouth is not the only fish that can walk. Red-lipped batfish species use their fins to move as if walking across the ocean floor. Flying gurnards have also been observed walking along sandy seabeds.

Some fish can also walk on land as well as underwater. Fin catfish species wriggle along as they travel from one pond to another.

Mudskippers, famous for living out of water for several days, move from place to place in a series of hops and can even climb mangrove trees.

Some species of 'walking' fish also offer clues as to how animals first moved from the sea onto land.

A cavefish living in a Thai cave was observed climbing waterfalls like a salamander or other four-legged animal, rather than wriggling or hopping its way up.

Researchers said the cavefish has a unique body structure and a gait not seen in other fish species.

Reporter Park Ju-hye fam1@pcss.co.kr