Animal Species:Banded Archerfish, Toxotes jaculatrix (Pallas, 1767)
The Banded Archerfish is known for its ability to shoot down resting insects by spitting a jet of water. Large archerfishes can hit a target 2-3 m away.
Banded Archerfish at Sydney Aquarium
Stuart Humphries
© Stuart Humphries
Identification
The Banded Archerfish is usually white or silvery on the body with 4 to 5 black bars on the upper half of the body.
Size range
Reaches a maximum size of about 30 cm.
Distribution
The species is found throughout the Indo-Pacific and in Australia it is recorded from north-western Western Australia to northern Queensland.
The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.
Distribution by collection data
Ozcam map of Banded Archerfish specimens in the Australian Museum.
Habitat
The species mostly lives in mangrove and estuarine habitats throughout much of the Indo-Pacific. It is only rarely encountered in freshwater.
Other behaviours and adaptations
Archerfishes have adaptations to the mouth which enable spitting. When a Banded Archerfish shoots a jet of water, it raises its tongue against the roof of the mouth forming a tube. The gill covers quickly close forcing water along the tube.
Classification
- Species:
- jaculatrix
- Genus:
- Toxotes
- Family:
- Toxotidae
- Order:
- Perciformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
Further Reading
- Allen, G.R. 1991. Field Guide to The Freshwater Fishes of New Guinea. Christensen Research Institute. Pub. 9. Pp 268.
Mark McGrouther
, Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:
Tags fishes, ichthyology, Banded Archerfish, Toxotes jaculatrix, Toxotidae, silver, grey, black, 'normal fish', 10 cm - 30 cm, stripes or bands, marine, adult,