A modified version of an eye test used to assess visual
acuity in the military has been given to archerfish by scientists to help
explain how these remarkable fish are able to accurately spit down tiny insects
high above the water’s surface.
Dr Shelby Temple, now at the University of Bristol, and his
team at the University of Queensland and the University of Western Australia
used a modified version of the Landolt C test to discover just how fine a
detail the archerfish could resolve.
The researchers first trained the fish to spit at one of two
letters – an ‘O’ or a ‘C’ – by rewarding them with food. Then they showed them small versions of both
letters together and recorded which letter they spat at.
Dr Temple said: "This modified Landolt C test works
because the only difference between the two letters is the gap in the ‘C’ so in
order to tell the difference and spit at the right target to get their reward
the fish must be able to resolve the gap."