Summary
The archerfish knocks insects off leaves by spitting a precise jet of water. Deep Look shows how it aims through the water's surface and fires a stream strong enough to blast prey into the water.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
The archerfish shoots a fast jet of water — a push of force — that knocks a bug off its perch. Aiming and firing that force takes surprising skill.
- How does the archerfish knock its prey into the water?
- What is the water jet doing to the insect — pushing or pulling?
- Why does the fish have to aim so carefully before it fires?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: force, jet, aim, push.
Try it: Squirt water from a bottle to knock a paper wad off a ledge. Write how your push of water is like the archerfish's.