Why Can Archerfish Shoot Water at Bugs?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why can archerfish shoot water at bugs?

The Big Idea

Archerfish can shoot water at bugs because they have a built-in squirt gun! They spit a strong jet of water at insects on leaves above. The bug falls into the water, and the fish eats it.

Spot the Bug

Step one: spot the bug. An archerfish swims near the surface of the water. It looks up at insects sitting on leaves above, like a hunter looking at a target.

Make a Tube

Step two: make a water tube. It presses its tongue against a groove in the roof of its mouth. That makes a tube, and when the fish snaps its gills shut, a strong jet of water shoots out.

Adjust the Aim

Step three: aim carefully. Water bends light, so the bug is not exactly where it looks. Archerfish learn to adjust their aim and get better with practice.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! It cruises just under the surface, looking up. Its tongue and mouth make a little tube. A jet of water squirts up. And practice makes its aim better and better.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Archerfish can hit bugs more than a meter away. They live in mangrove waters and rivers in Asia and Australia. Their aim improves with practice. Ask a grown-up before you aim any water toy, and never at faces or pets.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, aim a water dropper or squirt bottle at a paper bug taped to a wall above a sink. Can you hit it? How does practice help? Archerfish get better with practice too.

Outro

Archerfish are amazing water-shooting hunters. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!