Stomach Contents of Banded Archerfish, Toxotes jaculatrix (Pallas 1767) (Toxotidae) from brackish waters of South Andaman, India

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.