Archers fish shoot powerful jets of water at insects on tree branches, causing them to fall into the water where they quickly swim and consume them.
The archerfish (family Toxotidae) consists of five species found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They are renowned for their unique hunting method, where they shoot water at insects and small animals on trees or the ground, causing them to fall. With their specially structured mouths, archerfish can create high pressure to shoot powerful jets of water at their targets. They have pointed heads, wide mouths, and elongated, flattened bodies. Archerfish can thrive in both freshwater and saltwater environments. Most of the time, they swim near the water’s surface.
Toxotes jaculator – the most well-known species of archerfish – averages about 18 cm in length when fully grown.