A SHOAL of archer fish has arrived at the Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire Oaks.
The fish are able to shoot insects on land with extraordinarily accurate jets of water.
Found throughout northern Australia and South East Asia, archer fish use their tongues and a groove in the roof of their mouths similar to a rifle barrel to produce the water jets.
If the first jet misses the fish fires a rapid machine gun-like salvo to bring down the target. If all else fails, the fish can leap more than a foot out of the water to dislodge its prey.
Blue Planet aquarist Rebecca Goodwin said: “Archer fish really are one of the aquatic world’s more extraordinary hunters and it’s fascinating to watch them in action.
“Although these particular fish have only just arrived they are already trying out their shooting skills.
“Over the next few months we are planning to introduce some artificial fly targets which we’ll suspend above their open-top display to provide them with some extra target practice.”
Archer fish often hunt in aggressive fire teams of multiple fish shooting at a single target.
But it is not always the most accurate sharpshooter who gets to eat the prey and for this reason the fish will often leap out of the water and grab the insects.
Like all good hunters, the archer fish makes use of camouflage to stalk its quarry.
During the daytime its body is covered with dark patterns which merge into the shadows cast by overhanging trees. At night it changes to a silver colour to mimic the reflection of moonlight on the water.
Archer fish can live for up to two years in the wild and for up to 10 years in captivity.
