Research at the Experimental Hydrodynamics Laboratory

Fish Swimming & Maneuvering

Live Fish Maneuvering     Biomimetic Propulsion     Salp Propulsion     Prey Capture

Fast maneuvering and jumping during fish prey capture A. M. Shih & A. H. Techet Summary In order to leap out of water to capture prey, archer fish must generate a considerable amount of force. In order to determine how much impulse is generated from the motion of the archer's pectoral fins and tail, particle image velocimetry is being done on the fish while they jump. Additionally, information on the kinematics and general properties of this type of jumping is being derived from high speed videos of fish jumping. Applications of this work are focused on the development of robots capable of operating on both sides the free-surface, and taking measurements across the air-water interface! Some Cool Videos! These videos are made available for your enjoyment ONLY! Please do not copy or post them on your website or any other site such as YouTube or Facebook. Thank you.   Archer fish jumping twice it’s body length Lazy fish! Spitting a “water arrow” to capture the shrimp!  Body Time traces for a jumping Archer fish! About the Archer Fish Archer fish, species Toxotes, are known for their spitting ability. They are able to capture insects by shooting drops of water at them, knocking the bugs into the water. Archers also leap for prey that they consider close to the surface of the water. These fish are found anywhere from India, through Southeast Asia, all the way down to Australia. They live mainly in brackish water, but can also be found in freshwater streams or the ocean. Archer fish reach a maximum size of around 10 inches long.