Large numbers of fish seemed to have grown legs, forming a lengthy queue, migrating in a dry ditch as if they were moving houses in China.

The video was filmed in Haikou City in Hainan Province on September 27.

The torrential rains these past days are suspected to be the cause of this extraordinary migration, with fish presumably emerging from the nearby Meilan River.

Witnesses are astounded as these fish, exhibiting remarkable resilience, maintain an orderly queue within the ditch, undauntedly traversing the terrain, seemingly unaffected by the absence of water for several hours.

“It's as if they are relocating their homes," a witness described. "Their vitality is incredible; they don't die even after being out of the water for several hours."

These peculiar fish, identified as the Climbing Perch, are known for dwelling in gentle water bodies like ponds or canals and consuming microscopic aquatic creatures, including small fish and shrimp, categorizing them as omnivorous aquatic species.

On one hand, the Climbing Perch are endowed with highly developed gill apparatus allowing them to breathe air and survive extended periods out of water. The record for the longest survival of a Climbing Perch on land is an astonishing six days!

On the other hand, these species possess robust pectoral fins enabling them to overcome barriers and slopes and migrate to new aquatic habitats by manipulating their gill covers, pectoral fins, and flipping their bodies. Most fish species fear being out of water due to their susceptibility to rapid death in such conditions. However, the Climbing Perch is a clear exception, often voluntarily leaping ashore and traversing land, a strategic move to locate environments more conducive to their survival.

This enigmatic occurrence has spurred a ripple of astonishment among locals and experts alike, making us all ponder over the extraordinary adaptabilities the natural world continues to unveil. The Climbing Perch defies conventional aquatic life norms, showcasing a remarkable example of evolution and adaptability. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the world of these walking fish, exploring their exceptional survival strategies and understanding the ecological implications of their unusual migratory behaviours.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

9月27日，海南海口。大量鱼儿仿佛长了脚一样，排着长队在无水沟里搬家迁徙。
据目击者介绍，这几天一直在下雨，这些鱼应该是从附近的美兰河里跑上来的。它们排着队在那个沟里面走，好像搬家一样。这些鱼的生命力很顽强，离开水几个小时都不会死。
据了解，该鱼名为龟壳攀鲈，生活在水流平缓的池塘或沟渠，摄食微型水生动物，如小鱼和小虾等，为杂食性鱼类。
一方面，攀鲈的鳃上器非常发达，能呼吸空气，能离水较长时间而不死，龟壳攀鲈在陆地最长生存记录为6天。
另一方面是攀鲈拥有强壮的胸鳍，可以依靠摆动鳃盖、胸鳍、翻身等办法爬越堤岸、坡地，移居新的水域。一般的鱼都是害怕离开水的，就是因为它们离水以后很快就会死掉。但是攀鲈却不同，它们常常会主动跳上岸，然后在陆地上爬行，而这样做就是为了去寻找更适合它们生存的环境。