The True ‘Predator’ Of The Reef

The Sarcastic Fringehead (Neoclinus blanchardi) would appear to be like many other similar fish found throughout the oceans of the world. When unthreatened, the fringehead's appearance is fairly unremarkable. But what makes the Sarcastic Fringehead our topic of interest here, is its hot-headed temper and ability to dramatically transform its appearance once challenged. It is a truly a fearless and ferocious customer, which has a large mouth and aggressive territorial behaviour from which it has been given its common name. They are known to attack almost anything, including stray scuba divers hands!

Sarcastic Fringeheads live off the Pacific coast of North America from San Francisco to central Baja California, Mexico, and are found along open coastlines on sand or hard mud bottoms, outside the breaker zone at depths ranging between 3 - 73 metres. Neoclinus is a genus of Chaenopsid Blennies and includes the pike-blennies, tube-blennies and flag-blennies. An adult Sarcastic Fringehead will grow to about 30 cm in length, which is the largest species in the genus and have a lifespan of approximately 6 years. With highly compressed bodies, great pectoral fins and reduced pelvic fins, the fish appears much like an eel. Chaenopsids are scaleless and lack lateral lines. Their heads are very large, with bluntly rounded snouts and prominent lips and their huge jaws extend back well past the eye (this is larger in males than females). Sarcastic Fringeheads are normally brown to grey in colour, often with a red tinge and green or pale blotches. Males can be almost black with the rear of their giant jaw a bright yellow and usually there are pale spots or patches on the cheeks. 

Fringeheads are ambush predators, jumping out from their shelter to surprise prey swimming or moving by. It is thought that the main bulk of their diet is made up by the many crustaceans found around these tightly guarded territories but their needle-sharp teeth may also help them to ensnare more slippery prey too. They tend to inhabit abandoned worm tubes, crevices or empty clam shells, which also serve as nesting sites, where males are known to guard the brood. They may also found inhabiting human rubbish, such as discarded cans and bottles, but whatever the case, the larger the home the larger the Fringehead (and attitude) occupies it!

When two Fringeheads have a territorial battle, they wrestle by pressing their distended mouths against each other, as if they were kissing. This allows them to determine which is the larger fish, which establishes dominance. What adds to the humour is the fact that Fringeheads have very poor eyesight, so even if they're outclassed by a foe, they won't know until they're dancing cheek-to-cheek. 

Since they are fiercely territorial creatures, they will aggressively protect their homes from all intruders, regardless of size. The majority of the time, Sarcastic Fringeheads are at rest in their homes with only their heads protruding. However, upon the first sign of danger, they will employ their enormous 'Predator-like' mouths and needle teeth for defence. Initially, they show who’s boss with an intimidating, animated 'threat display' complete with body and head flexing, spreading gill covers and snapping jaws. But if the intruder ignores the warning, it is usually followed by a vicious, gaping-mouth attack on the intruder and a hot pursuit! In conclusion, you really don't want to messing around with these fish unless you're prepared for a fight!