Why the archer fish shoot water at an angle?

Archerfish don't shoot water at an angle to hit their prey; they actually aim for a target directly above the water's surface.

Here's how they do it:

1. Precise Aim: They use their keen eyesight to carefully target insects perched on branches or leaves above the water.

2. Powerful Jet: They forcefully expel a stream of water from their mouths, much like a water gun.

3. Gravity's Role: The water jet follows a parabolic trajectory due to gravity, meaning it initially rises before curving downwards towards the target.

4. Targeting Above: Because the water jet arches upwards before descending, the archerfish aims slightly above their target to compensate for the trajectory.

Therefore, it's not that they aim at an angle, but rather that the water stream naturally arcs due to gravity, requiring them to aim slightly higher than their target. This is similar to how humans aim a water gun slightly upwards to hit a target at a distance.