Archerfish: Ready, Aim, Spit!
The banded archerfish (Toxotes jaculatrix) is one of seven species of archerfish. These incredible fish are famous for spitting a water jet to hit their prey, such as insects.
How Do Archerfish Spit?
The banded archerfish has a deep groove at the top of the mouth, a hard and soft tissue ridge on the tongue, and a long and powerful lower jaw.
Scientists have two different takes on how their spitting method works. The first is called the “blowpipe” hypothesis, which is the idea that when their mouth claps together, the groove that fits the ridge on the tongue propels a strong water jet.
The second is known as the “pressure tank,” method. This method claims that the archerfish use their lips as a valve to build up pressure and spit the water out. The true mechanism behind their powerful spit remains under debate.
Before they spit, they position their mouth just above the water level and store a gulp of water in their mouth. Muscle energy is stored near their lower jaw, which converts the energy to propel a water jet. They also use this technique underwater, lifting sediments to find any food particles below.