Toxotes jaculatrix
Description
The Banded Archerfish is white to silvery in colour and the body may be tinged with green. They grow to 30cm in length (average of 20cm) and have 4 to 5 semi-triangular black bars on the upper sides of the body. The body has an oblong shape and the dorsal fin is positioned more towards the posterior part of its body. It is most recognised for its ability to shoot a stream of water to knock terrestrial (land) prey off their perch and into the water. Larger individuals have the potential to hit prey up to 3 metres away. Once knocked off their perch, the banded archerfish will track the falling victim, and can reach the falling prey in less than a second.
Very little research has been conducted on the breeding patterns of the Banded Archerfish. These fish will reach maturity at about 10cm long and like many fish, reproduce through spawning up to150,000 eggs per event.
This fish species mostly inhabits mangrove and estuarine habitats throughout much of the Indo-Pacific region. However, they will make their way between salt, fresh, and brackish systems, though this is not for breeding purposes. In Australia it is distributed from the north-western parts of Western Australia to northern Queensland.
Adaptations
- Raises its tongue against the roof of the mouth forming a tube, then gill covers quickly close forcing water along the tube which enable the fish to spit water
- Dark bands on back act as camouflage to predators above water
- Large eyes are positioned to enable binocular vision (3D)
- Capable of launching out of the water to capture prey from low overhanging vegetation
- Intelligent fish who learn shooting tips from the school and will change shooting behaviours to protect potential prey theft from other Archerfish
Feeding relationships
- What I eat: plant matter, aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans, small fish
- What eats me: Large carnivorous fish (e.g. Barramundi), birds (e.g. Egret), freshwater crocodiles
Interesting facts
Banded Archerfish are an intelligent fish who learn shooting accuracy tips by watching other fish in the school and will even change their shooting behaviours by taking more time to aim from a shorter distance to protect potential prey theft from other Archerfish.