Morphological characteristics and biodiversity of mudskipper fish (Periophthalmus: Gobiidae) in mangrove ecosystem of coastal Bay of Tomini, Boalemo, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia

Abstract. Baderan DWK, Aydalina RV, Hamidun MS. 2023. Morphological characteristics and biodiversity of mudskipper fish (Periophthalmus: Gobiidae) in mangrove ecosystem coastal Bay Tomini, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 498-507. The southern sea area Province is part Tomini bay, the biggest bay This has a unique Sulawesi endemic. forest Boalemo one habitats for flora fauna, place spawning, nurturing, food hunting fish. that lives area. study aims to reveal morphological Province. employed quantitative descriptive also implemented purposive sampling as method three stations (Dulupi, Bajo, East Pentadu mangrove). mudskippers were collected manually when water was receding using net. sample which had been then identified based on 22 morphological, 24 morphometric, seven meristic characteristics. identification results compared with key. mudskippers' species analyzed determine species' (diversity, evenness, richness, dominance indexes). research result revealed five from Periophthalmus Genus: argentilineatus, kalolo, malaccensis, minutus, variabilis, total individuals 561. score H?: 1.09 showed diversity categorized medium. evenness index 0.99 obtained 3 observation stations, while lowest station II 0.34, R1 each respectively (0.19); (0.36); (0.2). this could be used database sustainable management tackle threats extinction through aquatic life protection preservation arrange natural balance support availability resource future generations.