Fish shoots, fish scores

November 23rd, 2006

Archer fish, including Toxotes jaculatrix (stop giggling at the back), have an unusual talent for catching prey. Rather than sit around all day waiting for the odd insect to drop by, the Archer fish shoots a jet of water from its mouth with surprising accuracy, knocking the insect off their perch.  Their eyes, though well-developed, cannot overcome refraction, and the fish must learn to shoot from directly underneath its prey in order to be successful. Also displaying a clear lack of patience, the Archer fish will often jump out of the water to grab the falling insect, and isn’t adverse to stealing food from another, more accurate competitor.

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Entry Filed under: Awesome Science Videos

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