Stomach contents of banded archerfish Toxotes jaculatrix (Pallas 1767) (Toxotidae) from brackish waters of South Andaman India


Citation

Sreeraj C. R., . and Mohanraju R., . and Simon K. D., . and Goutham-Bharathi M. P., . and Krishnan P., . Stomach contents of banded archerfish Toxotes jaculatrix (Pallas 1767) (Toxotidae) from brackish waters of South Andaman India. pp. 243-250. ISSN 0116-6514

Abstract

Stomach contents of banded archerfish Toxotes jaculatrix (Pallas 1767) (Toxotidae) ranging from 13-24 cm total length (TL) collected from brackish waters of South Andaman India were examined. Brachyuran crabs were the dominant prey item with an occurrence frequency (F) of 89 followed by insects (71). Though insects were present in all length categories their percent composition significantly decreased from 61 in the smallest to about only 3 in the largest. Ontogenetic changes in food preferences were apparent as significant decreases in number of prey categories with increasing fish size (nine six and three prey categories from the smallest to the largest size class) were observed. The largest size class had teleosts in their stomachs indicative of higher nutritional demands with their subsequent growth. Though known as insectivorous with specialized feeding techniques to feed upon arboreal insects the present study suggests that T. jaculatrix is an opportunistic feeder consuming a wide range of prey from various habitats.


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Abstract

Stomach contents of banded archerfish Toxotes jaculatrix (Pallas 1767) (Toxotidae) ranging from 13-24 cm total length (TL) collected from brackish waters of South Andaman India were examined. Brachyuran crabs were the dominant prey item with an occurrence frequency (F) of 89 followed by insects (71). Though insects were present in all length categories their percent composition significantly decreased from 61 in the smallest to about only 3 in the largest. Ontogenetic changes in food preferences were apparent as significant decreases in number of prey categories with increasing fish size (nine six and three prey categories from the smallest to the largest size class) were observed. The largest size class had teleosts in their stomachs indicative of higher nutritional demands with their subsequent growth. Though known as insectivorous with specialized feeding techniques to feed upon arboreal insects the present study suggests that T. jaculatrix is an opportunistic feeder consuming a wide range of prey from various habitats.

Additional Metadata

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Item Type: Article
AGROVOC Term: Toxotidae
AGROVOC Term: Toxotes jaculatrix
AGROVOC Term: Toxotidae
AGROVOC Term: Crabs
AGROVOC Term: Prey
AGROVOC Term: Insects
AGROVOC Term: Food preferences
AGROVOC Term: Stomach
AGROVOC Term: Feeding systems
AGROVOC Term: Habitats
Depositing User: Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified: 24 Apr 2025 06:28
URI: http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23708

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