Territoriality and Courtship Behavior

Abstract

Mudskippers, particularly species of the genus Periophthalmus, are renowned for their inter- and intraspecific interactions while out of water. Displays include those for courtship and maintaining territorial boundaries. To encourage more studies on the social behavior of oxudercine gobies, this review considers the wider theoretical framework of territoriality, aggression, and courtship and the role of hormones for each category of behavior. Except for courtship displays, sexual dimorphism in other behaviors has not been considered. This review further includes the seasonal distribution of and attempts to identify the composite elements of commonly assumed display categories such as courtship, agonistic, and territorial behaviors. The ease in observing mudskippers in their natural habitats of fringing mangrove areas, riverbanks, and exposed mudflats prompted studies of their feeding activities as well as territorial and courtship behavior. The detailed phases of agonistic and courtship behaviors in Ps. argentilineatus serve as a useful primer to the study of ethology in mudskippers.