Banded archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix) is a freshwater, brackish species recorded in Singapore. It is mainly found over estuary, mangrove.
Scientific name: Toxotes jaculatrix · Water: Freshwater, Brackish
Size: up to 30 cm
The banded archerfish is the best-known member of the Toxotidae, with a grooved palate that lets it spit a jet of water to knock insects off overhanging leaves and branches. It lives in brackish estuaries and mangrove creeks, and in Singapore it is found at Sungei Buloh, Sungei Api Api, the Pasir Ris mangroves, Pulau Ubin and Chek Jawa, usually just under the surface in the shade of the trees. Literature gives a typical length of 12–18 cm. A small hook under a float, baited with bread flake, prawn or an insect and eased into the still water beside the mangroves, is the effective approach — the fish is extremely alert to movement on the surface, so keep back from the edge.
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