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How does an archer fish knock insects into the water?

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Bluefin tuna swimming underwater in a group, with silvery bodies and streamlined shapes, near Japan. — perciform Bluefin tuna (*Thunnus thynnus orientalis*) in the waters near Japan.

The archer fish (family Toxotidae) is a member of the order Perciformes that has evolved a specialized method for capturing insect prey located on vegetation above the water surface.21

To accomplish this, the fish’s mouth is structurally modified to form a groove along the roof. By pressing its tongue against this groove, the fish creates a tube that allows it to "shoot" drops of water with high precision. When the water drop strikes the insect, the prey is knocked into the water, where the archer fish can then consume it. This unique feeding behaviour is a notable example of the diverse adaptations found within the perciform order.12