Page 34 - World of Animals - Issue #36

Sharp

shooter

The amazing archerfish spits

jets of water with incredible
accuracy, to knock its prey
into the water and into its
open mouth…
Lurking in tropical estuarine waters of
India, Australia and Polynesia are some

fish who aren’t afraid to spit at what

they want. The archerfish are small

shoaling fish that use an amazing way to
get their insect prey to come to them.

These fish manipulate the water around
them and use it as a tool.

By flattening their gill covers they
force water through a gun barrel that
they form using their tongue against the
roof of their mouth. They shoot a stream
of water into the air, and as it travels the
water collects at the top of the stream

and acts like the ball of a fist, knocking
the unsuspecting insect into the water.
What’s amazing is that these fish can

hit targets up to 3m (9.84ft) away. They
can adjust the water pressure of the
stream to suit the distance, and even aim
accurately with account for refraction!
A human using a
bow, or a fi sh using
its mouth, archery is
a skill of precision!

Young
archerfi sh start
shooting water at just
2.5cm (0.98in) in length, USAIN BOLT
but like any skill it needs World record 2009
practising before its Speed 100m (328ft)
in 9.58 seconds
shots become more Height 195cm (6.4ft)
accurate. Weight 94kg (14.8st)
Nationality Jamaica

CHEETAH
Top speed 120kph
(74.6mph)
Height 1m (3.3ft) at
the shoulder
Weight 50-64kg (7.9
-10st)
Species name:
Acinonyx jubatus

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