Toxotes jaculatrix

Information about the Banded Archerfish:

The Banded Archerfish is a brackish water fish of the genus Toxotes. Larger specimens may be able to hit prey 6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 inches (2 to 3 meters) away. The name (binomial as well as common) refers to Sagittarius the archer, because of the unusual method banded archerfish use to capture prey. Banded archerfish are found in Indo-Pacific and Oceanian waters, generally in river mouths and mangrove estuaries. They move between fresh, salt, and brackish water over the course of their lifetime, though not to breed. Banded archerfish can reach a maximum length of 12 inches (30 centimeters) Average length though is about 8 inches (20 centimeters). Banded archerfish have mouths adapted to spit jets of water over distance, usually to knock prey into the water. The banded archerfish shoots the jet of water by raising its tongue against the roof of its mouth, forming a tube. The opercula then close quickly, pressurizing water along the tube. Most archerfish are able to spit at a range of 60 inches (150 centimeters.), When a prey is hit and falls into the water, the banded archerfish begins to move towards the place where it will land reaching it in less than one second. The poster is printed on matte, museum-quality paper with Giclée printing quality: • Paper thickness: 10.3 mil • Paper weight: 5.6 oz/y² (192 g/m²) • Opacity: 94% Buy a Digital Download