This Underwater Sniper Has Near-Perfect Accuracy

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Written by Kellianne Matthews

Published: January 2, 2025

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Archerfish in mangrove water
iStock.com/daboost

The underwater world is filled with some pretty incredible creatures, from flying fish to eyeless deep-sea dwellers. But arguably one of the most fascinating ones is the archerfish. This small fish is like a master marksman. In the video above, watch one shoot as it launches its surprise attack with deadly accuracy — like a miniature, scaly assassin — on its unassuming prey. Watch and then we’ll discuss just how this fish can accomplish this feat.

What Is an Archerfish?

Archerfish

Archerfish live primarily in wetlands, streams, and ponds of North Australia, Melanesia, Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. 

Archerfish belong to the Toxotidae family, which includes 10 species within the genus Toxotes. They are typically between 5 and 7 inches long. However, the seven-spot archerfish (Toxotes chatarues) can grow up to 16 inches long.

Archerfish have elongated bodies that are laterally compressed. This means that while they appear roundish from the side, they are surprisingly thin when you look at them from the front. Most archerfish have silver bodies with varying numbers of spots or bands. 

But it’s not their appearance that makes archerfish so special. Their true claim to fame is their incredible underwater sniper skills. 

How This Fish Can Make the Perfect Shot

Archerfish shooting

This illustration shows how the archerfish comes to the surface and precisely targets an insect above the water.

Archerfish are mainly carnivorous and hunt things like spiders, smaller fish, and insects. While it’s easy to imagine catching underwater prey, hunting land-dwelling creatures as a fish is a greater challenge. Just imagine looking up at objects on land from underwater — they likely appear distorted and out of focus due to light refracting on the water’s surface. Archerfish, however, carefully position their eyes when shooting, which ensures that any target remains within a specific zone of their vision, which helps them compensate for light refraction and distortion

That’s not their only superpower. Once an archerfish has chosen a target — for example, a spider perched on a mangrove tree — it forms its mouth and tongue into a small tube. Then, manipulating the water around it and squeezing its gills, the archerfish shoots a powerful jet of water toward its target — in this case, a spider.

As it travels toward the intended target, the water begins to accelerate, which causes the water to bunch up slightly into a small “blob” just before impact. This simple action greatly increases the force and power of the water as it hits the spider. The archerfish can also manipulate the strength of this “blob” by adjusting for targets at different distances. As if all of that isn’t amazing enough, archerfish are incredibly accurate and can hit targets up to 10 feet away.

An adult archerfish hits its target nearly every time, but young archerfish must practice and utilize social learning to develop that level of accuracy. Initially, they don’t have the best aim and compensate by hanging out together in small schools. When a member of the group successfully hits its target, the others watch closely and adjust their techniques to mimic the shot. 

Where To Find Archerfish

Archerfish school

Archerfish live in wetlands, streams, and ponds. However, a handful of species can also live in brackish (a mixture of saltwater and freshwater) habitats like mangroves and estuaries. Archerfish are found in North Australia, Melanesia, Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. 


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About the Author

Kellianne Matthews

Kellianne Matthews is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on anthrozoology, conservation, human-animal relationships, and animal behavior. Kellianne has been writing and researching animals for over ten years and has decades of hands-on experience working with a variety of different animals. She holds a Master’s Degree from Brigham Young University, which she earned in 2017. A resident of Utah, Kellianne enjoys creating, analyzing movies, and hanging out with her dog and cats.

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