While we know about some archerfish species, we only know them as food but not other interesting things about them. Do you know that this fish can shoot land insects from a spot using a jet water spit? On top of that, they are euryhaline fish that can live in both brackish water and freshwater habitats. Fascinating, right? There are 2 archerfish species in Cambodia, and let’s find out more below.
Smallscale Archerfish (ត្រីកញ្ជាក់ស្លា)
Scientific Name: Toxotes Microlepis
Looking small but not really, a smallscale archerfish can reach a length of up to 15 centimeters. It has a pointed snout and large eyes while its body has several dark wedge-shaped bands on the flanks. The body of the fish is silver or yellow, and it has a flat back and curved belly. And the name says it all, this fish has smaller scales compared to others in the archerfish family. Smallscale archerfish inhabit estuaries and large rivers in Asia and the Indo-Pacific throughout the Chao Phraya and Mekong river basins. They usually live along the shores of flowing and standing waters with overhanging vegetation. Not different from other archerfish species out there, this one also feeds on crustaceans, insect larvae, terrestrial insects, and zooplankton.
Spotted Archerfish (ត្រីកញ្ជាក់ស្លា)
Scientific Name: Toxotes Chatareus
An average spotted archerfish can reach 20 centimeters long, and it has a unique sooty color. Also goes by the name seven-spot archerfish, and those random spots on the body are the reasons why. There are usually six or seven dark blotches along the dorsal side of the fish. The cool part is that these blotches may become darker or lighter due to the environment, stress, or time of the day. It has a wide distribution, ranging from Southeast Asia to the Indo-Pacific and Australia. The fish live in brackish or fresh water where they inhabit estuaries and mangrove swamps. This archerfish species feeds on crustaceans, fish, insects, and vegetative matter at the surface of the water.
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