Latin Etymology: Toxotes ("archer") jaculatrix ("thrower")
Shoal of Banded Archerfish (subspecies ) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019
Featured Subspecies: ?
Weight: 700g / Length: 20-30cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern
The Archerfish are a family of species which have developed a small amount of fame due to a specific unusual talent - the ability to knock their prey into the water by spitting a high velocity globule of water at them from below, knocking them off their leaf perch into the water below where they can be rapidly devoured. Due to this technique - able to go around 5 times their body length or more, they are found in mangroves where there is plenty of opportunity for overhanging leaves. The fact they can perform this feat at all has some additional interesting implications - they can improve their technique from observing one another and are capable of compensating for water refraction - both not insubstantial bits of skill!
Related Species:
Order: Perciformes
Family: Toxotidae
Genus: Toxotes
SUBSPECIES: unclear
- Sighting Locations -
Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto
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