Kimberley Archerfish
Toxotes kimberleyensis
-17.4083, 124.946
Field Notes
Description:
This lovely little fish is a tan/brown/yellowy colour. It has prominent black spots along its side near the spine. If anyone thinks this may be a different species of fish please let me know!!! I have no fish knowledge at all :)
Habitat:
Swimming at the surface of the water - fresh water - in the river in Windjana Gorge. There was about 3 or 4 swimming around where I was watching and getting a shot through water was just sheer luck!
Notes:
The Kimberley Archerfish is endemic to Australia. "Until the Kimberley Archerfish was described in 2004, it was thought to be Toxotes oligolepis, which has longer and stouter dorsal-fin spines, fewer lateral line scales, and is only known from Indonesia." (Fishes of Australia: http://www.fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/2512 )
The Archerfish is known for "...squirting a jet of water at its victim. The archerfish does this by forming a small groove in the roof of its mouth and its tongue into narrow channel. It then fires by contracting its gill covers and forcing water through the channel, shooting a stream..." (Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archerfish )
Further reading: http://australianmuseum.net.au/uploads/journals/18006/1423_complete.pdf
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