Archerfish are built for stealth. Compressed side to side, they have a flat head with their dorsal fins at the rear of their bodies. This keeps the topside flat, helping them stay hidden just below the water’s surface. Black vertical bands add to their camouflage, blending in with plants in their natural habitat.
Known for their remarkable hunting skill, archerfish spit jets of water to knock down prey on land . With distinctive elongated bodies and flattened heads, these sharpshooters are found in brackish and freshwater areas of Southeast Asia and Australia.
Animal Type
Bony Fish
Range
Asia and Oceania
Natural Habitat
Coastal Waters
Diet
Insects, plant matter
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated
Extinct
Least Concern
At lower risk of extinction
Find out more
Characteristics
Feeding behaviour
The unique way that archerfish hunt can be found in their very name. Their powerful jets of water, shot with pinpoint accuracy, will easily knock down insects or prey from surface vegetation into their upturned mouths. Such mouths are adapted to capture prey from above them.
Threats faced/Conservation
Often found in coastal waters, archerfish are at risk from habitat loss caused by coastal development and habitat degradation. These changes threaten the environments they rely on to hunt, hide, and survive.
You May Also Like
Fish
Indo-Pacific Tarpon
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated
Species yet to be assessed
Data Deficient
Insufficient data for evaluation
Least Concern
At lower risk of extinction
Near Threatened
Likely to become threatened in the near future
Vulnerable
At high risk of extinction
Endangered
At very high risk of extinction
Critically Endangered
At extremely high risk of extinction
Extinct in the Wild
No longer found in the wild, survives only under human care
Extinct
No longer exists