Another fi sh that incapacitates its prey prior to capture
is the archerfi sh (Toxotidae), which feeds on terrestrial
insects. Archerfi shes have a groove in the top of the mouth
along which the tongue fi ts. The fi sh propels droplets of
water directionally along the groove at its aerial prey. The
insects fall into the water and are snapped up by the waiting
archer. Laboratory trials have demonstrated that archerfi
shes can learn to hit targets 30–50 cm above the water,
moving as fast as 20 cm/s, with up to 50% accuracy. This
task requires correcting not only for refraction at the
water’s surface and the arc and decelerating velocity of the
fi red droplet but also the change in the three dimensional
location of the target (Dill 1977a; Schuster et al. 2006).
What makes this behavior even more astounding is that
individuals can learn to adjust their shots by observing the
efforts of shoalmates (Fig. 19.5). Osphronemid fi shes in the
genus Colisa also spit water at insects.
The actual strike of pikelike predators is short and fast,
involving a prestrike S-shaped bending of the body and