Order : Perciformes
Family : TOXOTIDAE
Species : Toxotes jaculatrix
Maximum Length : 30 cm (generally up to 20 cm)

The Banded Archerfish inhabits brackish river estuaries and mangrove habitat, but has also been documented upstream in freshwater habitats.

In common with other archerfishes, such as the Spotted Archerfish Toxotes chatareus, it is able to dislodge insects from overhanging vegetation by directing a stream of water from its mouth at its chosen prey.

This species is identified by the 3 thick, dark bands running vertically down each flank. Each gill cover also has a thinner dark band, which is less apparent: a fifth, sometimes very faint, band is present at the base of the tail fin. Thus, a total of 5 bands is usually present, although this may vary in some populations.

The flanks are silvery, the back is olive-green or greyish, and the dorsal and tail fins are greenish or yellowish.

The Banded Archerfish is wide-ranging in coastal waters of the Asia-Pacific region, ranging from India in the west through Southeast Asia to the Pacific Islands in the east, and as far south as Australia.

Figs 1 to 3 : Banded Archerfish at Sungei Buloh, Singapore, where large shoals congregate under the  main bridge.


References :

Allen, G. 1988. Marine Fishes of Southeast Asia. Western Australian Museum.


Links :

Fishbase - Toxotes jacuatrix