Quick Take
- Shooting through a water-air boundary should make accurate aim nearly impossible, but archerfish hit their mark almost every time. See the marksman overview →
- The way archerfish form their 'gun' has nothing to do with their throat, and the actual mechanism is stranger than you'd expect. Explore the shooting mechanism →
- Their water jet doesn't behave like a normal projectile once it leaves the water. Something changes it mid-air. See how the jet behaves →
- Before firing a single shot, archerfish complete a calculated sequence that, if skipped, would cause them to miss every time. Discover the aiming sequence →
The archerfish gets its name for a great reason. These fish have the best aim in the ocean, but what do they use as their weapon? Unsurprisingly, they use water that they spit out of their mouths to shoot prey out of the water. This YouTube video by Love Nature shows this happening, and it’s more impressive than you might think.
Archerfish shoot at prey, like insects, that live on foliage above the water.
©iStock.com/daboost
How Archerfish Shoot
The archerfish is one of the most remarkable hunters in nature. Instead of catching their prey by jumping out of the water, archerfish use a unique method: they shoot jets of water to knock prey off branches and leaves. So what do they hunt? Archerfish primarily eat insects that rest on leaves and branches hanging above the water where they live. This includes insects like flies, beetles, ants, and grasshoppers. They also hunt spiders, centipedes, and crustaceans. Because archerfish inhabit mangrove forests and estuaries, they benefit from an abundance of overhanging foliage and plentiful prey. Archerfish are opportunistic predators that make the most of any situation. So when prey appears above the water, archerfish are quick to take their shot. But how do they shoot down their prey?
Archerfish are impressive hunters, but they use a very simple method: shooting water from their mouth. To fire a shot, the fish first fill their mouth with water. They press their tongues against the groove in the roof of their mouth, creating a tube-like nozzle. After this, they squeeze their gill covers, forcing the water quickly through the tiny opening. This creates a jet of water that can travel up to three meters (nearly ten feet) high. The jet is quick enough to knock prey into the water, securing the fish’s next meal. While it may sound simple, archerfish actually carefully plan each shot. Archerfish have been observed to subtly adjust their aim and the speed of each shot, demonstrating their ability to adapt to different types of prey. So while shooting a stream of water may not sound like the most fearsome style of hunting, archerfish are among some of the best hunters in nature.
