Zoolung Animals

Dongtan

Archer Fish

True to its name, the “water-shooting fish” shoots water from its mouth near the water's surface to hit and catch insects moving across plants above the water. It can shoot water accurately over long distances—up to 3 meters—and its accuracy is said to be nearly 100%. Since it can live in both freshwater and saltwater, it can be found near the surface of brackish water areas where rivers and the sea meet.

Category

Order Perciformes Family Gobiidae
Habitat

A river estuary where the river meets the sea
Diet

Insect

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Yeongdeungpo

Guardian of Life Gongsil

Species

A unique freshwater fish

A fish belonging to the archerfish family, it is famous for shooting water jets to catch prey.

Place of discovery

Central and South Asia and Southeast Asia

It is found primarily in South Asia and Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and northern Australia.

Habitat

Mangrove forests and estuaries

They primarily inhabit brackish water areas—such as mangrove forests, river estuaries, and lagoons—where freshwater and saltwater mix.

Diet

Carnivorous (insect)

Although it eats aquatic insects and small fish, it mainly catches insects perched on twigs or leaves by knocking them off with its beak.

Action

Water Gun Hunt

It gathers water in its mouth and uses water pressure to accurately shoot a stream of water at insects up to 2–3 meters away.

Average size

15–20 cm in length

Although it varies by species, they generally measure around 15 to 20 cm in body length.

Features

Accurate aiming ability

It possesses exceptional visual acuity and computational ability, allowing it to compensate for the refraction of light and accurately aim at targets on the water's surface.

Lifespan

5 to 7 years

In captivity, they typically live for about 5 to 7 years.