Toxotes kimberleyensis
Toxotes kimberleyensis is a species of archerfish found in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It was first named by Gerald R. Allen in 2004, and is commonly known as the Kimberley archerfish, largescale archerfish, or western archerfish. Taxonomy. Archerfish are distributed throughout the waters of Australia and Indonesia, including a population in western Australia historically identified as "Toxotes oligolepis". In 1978, in his "Review of the Archerfishes", Gerald R. Allen suggested that "there is a possibility that [this population] may represent a distinct species". A direct comparison with the type material of "T. oligolepis" in 2001 revealed  the Kimberley specimens differed in several ways, including having a deeper body and shorter dorsal fin spines. The specific name "kimberleyensis" refers to the Kimberley region of western Australia, where the species is localized. Description. "T. kimberleyensis" can be identified from its fins, with five spines and 11–13 soft rays on the dorsal fin, three spines and 14–16 rays on the anal fin, and 12–13 pectoral rays. There are between 28 and 33 scales on the lateral line, which is nearly unbroken except at the pectoral fin. The pelvic fins are short. There are six to seven gill rakers on  the lower limb of the first branchial arch. "T. kimberleyensis" can reach up to about in length, has a large mouth opening at an angle and fine villiform teeth. The head and body are smooth with very fine scales, but the scales are toothed as is common for perciform fish. "T. kimberleyensis" is silvery or silvery-white in color, with black side markings. The sides of the body are marked with four to five black bars which may be wedge-shaped or rounded. In young specimens, the fins are translucent or transparent, but adults have grey or black fins. Differences  from "T. oligolepis". "Toxotes oligolepis" and "Toxotes kimberleyensis" have a similar colour pattern. Nonetheless, "T. kimberleyensis" differs from "T. oligolepis" in several notable respects. The type specimen of "T. oligolepis" was thought to have been collected near Buru. "T. oligolepis" has longer dorsal spines overall than those observed in the Kimberley region population. The third dorsal spine of "T. oligolepis" is distinctive and extends higher than the rest of the soft dorsal fin, whereas the fourth and fifth spines of "T. kimberleyensis" are longest. However, the spines of "T. kimberleyensis" do not extend beyond the height of the soft portion  of the dorsal fin. "T. oligolepis" also has around 25 scales on its lateral line, compared to 30–31 typically (and up to 33) for "T. kimberleyensis". Distribution and habitat. "Toxotes kimberleyensis" is restricted to inland fresh water habitats such as rivers. The known range of "T. kimberleyensis" is limited to the western Kimberley district of Australia, based on surveys conducted over three decades. It is common in the Fitzroy River, but has also been observed in the Isdell River, the Meda River, and the May River, where it is nonetheless rarer. Its relatives, the seven-spot archerfish ("T. chatareus") and  the banded archerfish ("T. jaculatrix") can be found on the coast in brackish water or even saltwater, but "T. kimberleyensis" only inhabits freshwater environments. However, "T. kimberleyensis" can be found as much as upstream in the Fitzroy River and has been observed as far upstream as the Geikie Gorge National Park. "T. kimberleyensis" prefers deep freshwater pools but swims near the surface and near the shore. Like all archerfish, it feeds by shooting a jet of water from its mouth, knocking insects on overhanging vegetation near the shore into the water.