How the Archer Fish Guns Down Spiders with Spit

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Some fish swim.

This one does math, accounts for refraction, and makes assassinations from the air.

Watch “How the Archer Fish Guns Down Spiders with Spit”

You can watch “The Archerfish” for free on YouTube by clicking the video embed above.

Ratings:

  • My Rating: 90/100
  • IMDB Rating: N/A
  • Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: N/A

Director’s Note: Unknown director. This short doc (under 5 minutes) was produced by National Geographic. The team behind it is known for top-tier animal behavior shorts like “The Deadliest Swarm,” “How the Cuttlefish Hypnotizes Prey,” and “Why Elephants Mourn.”

Release Date: March 1, 2023 (via YouTube/National Geographic)

Highlights of the Archer Fish

The Setup

“The Setup” — You think it’s just a fish, until it opens fire. This quick doc shows the archerfish’s insane ability to snipe bugs out of trees with a stream of spit. It’s like evolution gave it a built-in Super Soaker with a laser scope.

You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up

  • They compensate for refraction (bending of light) to aim correctly at bugs perched above the water. Basically, they’re solving physics problems in their head… instantly.

More Highlights from the Doc

  • Archerfish can shoot water jets up to 6 feet (almost 2 meters) to knock bugs off branches—like underwater sharpshooters.
  • They build pressure using their gills and shoot by compressing their tongue into a groove in their mouth to form a water-blasting tube. Nature’s squirt gun.
  • A garden orb weaver spider builds its web above the water—right in the danger zone. The fish takes several shots until the spider finally drops.
  • The water stream arcs due to gravity, so the fish has to aim not just at the target, but account for a curved shot. Precision over instinct.
  • Despite the fish’s first few hits, the spider clings to its branch, forcing the archerfish to adjust and fire again. It’s a real-time aiming tutorial.

Lesser-Known Details from the Doc

  • The archerfish isn’t a picky eater. It’ll eat anything floating, but this air-hunting ability gives it an edge over rivals in its ecosystem.
  • Its “shotgun” tongue is actually an evolved mechanism: by rapidly snapping shut a gill cover, it channels explosive pressure through a custom-formed tube.
  • This behavior is often a team effort—archerfish sometimes learn better by watching other fish shoot before trying it themselves (not in this clip, but true from research).

Wrap Up

This is the coolest thing you’ll see a fish do all week. Forget jaws—this one’s got range.

Thanks for reading!

Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc

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