Toxotidae

views updated May 29 2018

Toxotidae (archerfish; subclass Actinopterygii, order Perciformes) A small family of marine and freshwater fish that have a deep, oval body, the dorsal and large anal fins being situated well to the back of the fish. The mouth and eyes are large. Toxotes chatareus (archerfish), 24 cm, is capable of squirting a jet of water from its mouth and ‘shooting down’ insects from a height of up to 1.5 m above the water surface. There are about four species, in south-east Asia and northern Australia.

archerfish

views updated May 21 2018

archerfish See TOXOTIDAE.