Archer fish

Archer fish

Scientific name: Toxotes sp.
Situation:
Jerusalem zoo:

Archer fish live in brackish water areas, such as mangrove swamps, in the tropical areas of the Old World. Archer fish got their scientific, English and Hebrew names from their habit to shoot a jet of water from their mouth to knock down insects, their favorite food, from the overhanging foliage to the water and eat them. However, shooting the insects is not as simple as may seem – archer fish need to aim while correcting for the refraction of the light between water and air. Archer fish gain the ability to aim accurately from experience. Adult fish may be accurate up to a distance of about 1-1.5m. The Archer fish can be observed at the Small animal building.