In many cultures, spitting is considered rude; in the world of the archerfish, spitting just means you're trying to catch dinner! Journey to the mangroves of Southeast Asia to meet the archerfish, an expert marksman that shoots insects clinging to the roots above it with a stream of water. Not only do they shoot to kill, archerfish also have the ability to recognize human faces, a trait traditionally reserved for organisms with large, elaborate brains.

Concepts

fish, fish anatomy, the brain, prey, marine ecosystems, marine life, animal adaptations, animal behavior

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Launch a research project on animal adaptations and use the video as a starting point
• Liven up a lesson on predator-prey relationships or marine ecosystems

Classroom Considerations

• Does not require any prior knowledge to enjoy the resource

• This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

• Shows the archerfish from both water level and the prey's view, which helps pupils get a sense of how accurate their spit can be
• Viewers see the research setting where biologists discovered the fish can recognize a specific human face and get to watch as the fish picks from a series of faces
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.6.2 SL.7.2 SL.9-10.2