archerfish (toxotes jaculatrix)

CONTENTS

Fauna index

Vertebrates: Fish

Peter K L Ng and N Sivasothi (editors)

Archerfish
Toxotes jaculatrix
Family Toxotidae

Size: 20 cm

Many mangrove fish feed on insects accidentally failing onto the water surface. But the Archerfish is too impatient to wait.

Its elongated mouth has an internal channel (a 'barrel') through which water can be forcefully pumped by its powerful jaw muscles.

Archerfish (arrow)
near the water surface

This jet of water is strong enough to shoot through the air and knock down insects.

The Archerfish's eye is designed to spot and aim accurately at insects - fully compensating for the refraction which takes place when light travels from water to light. When the fish fails to shoot down its prey (as even the most accomplished marksman sometimes does), it is able to leap high out of the water to snatch the insect.

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What is mangrove?
Introduction

The Ecosystem
Abiotic
Biotic

Value
Intro
Products
Indirect uses
Potential uses

About Mangroves
in Singapore
History
Mangroves to visit
Conservation

From "A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore", Peter K. L. Ng and N. Sivasothi (editors)
Volume 1: The Ecosystem and Plant Diversity and Volume 2: Animal Diversity
Authors: Kelvin K. P. Lim, Dennis H. Murphy, T. Morgany, N. Sivasothi, Peter K. L. Ng,
B. C. Soong, Hugh T. W. Tan, K. S. Tan & T. K. Tan
BP Guide to Nature Series published by the Singapore Science Centre, sponsored by British Petroleum
© 2001 Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore & The Singapore Science Centre