Banded archerfish or toxote
Toxotes sp
Toxotes jaculatrix© Fréderic Fasquel
La coloration du toxote est un camouflage efficace : son dos sombre est difficile à distinguer sur le fond de la rivière et ses bandes noires latérales miment les ombres portées par la végétation.
Il existe plusieurs espèces de Toxotes dont le Toxotes jaculatrix, présenté à l'Aquarium.
Informations
Conservation status
This fish lives in the mangroves and in brackish water habitats throughout Asia. The archerfish spits strong, accurate jets of water from its mouth at insects and gastropods living in the vegetation above the water, to a distance of over one metre. It keeps water under pressure in its mouth, pointing it upwards. When the archerfish shoots, the gill covers contract suddenly, compressing the water in the mouth and gill cavities. The jet is guided by a groove created in the roof of the fish’s mouth.
From the water, the archerfish aims at land-based prey. To reduce light refraction through the water surface, the archerfish comes as close as it can to being directly beneath its prey. Young archerfish are less accurate in their shooting: they may work together and use group fire to bring prey down into the water.
Lastly, if the prey remains in place despite the shooting, the archerfish can jump out of the water to grab it, to a height of 30 cm.
Technique de jet d'eau du toxote
L'alimentation des poissons de surface
Co-production Palais de la Porte Dorée / Esprit sorcier
