Natural History - Sarcastic Fringehead

I really enjoyed this assignment. It was fun to learn about this fantastic fish, and I'll definitely be doing more studies like this is the future!

~Emily

Sarcastic Fringehead - Push Yourself!

Sarcastic Fringehead - Page 2

Here's a continuation of my studies on the Sarcastic Fringehead.

I wasn't able to find a skeletal structure, but I did find some images of eggs in various stages of development. I also included some quick gesture drawings showing it's movement when swimming and fighting, as well as gender differences and a few different color patterns I've found.

Anything else I should include?

I'm also going to try to get done a full illustration of this guy hanging out in his shell home.

Sarcastic Fringehead Page 1

Here's the start of some drawings of that crazy fish!

I'm working on some more, including gesture drawings and different colorations, which will be up soon! Still searching for this guys skeletal structure and a baby picture..

~Emily

Emily Ormsby - Sarcastic Fringehead

The sarcastic fringehead is quite a unique fish. I especially enjoy its fins and markings, as well as its big dopey mouth. Aww aren't you cute little-

OH GOD NEVER MIND.

Size:

        -usually around 3-8 inches, but can reach up to a foot in length

Habitat:

        -Pacific Ocean, off the west coast of North America

        -takes shelter in empty shells, cracks, and occasionally bottles and cans

          thrown into the ocean

        -shelters protect from larger predators

        -the size of the fringehead's shelter typically coincides with the size of

          the fish living in it

        -extremely territorial and protective of their homes

        - hides its body in its shelter and uses its large mouth to threaten and

          attack intruders

Diet:  

        -the fringehead's diet is unknown

        -many closely related fish eat crustaceans like shrimp and small crabs

        -due to its sharp teeth, it is most likely capable of grasping smaller fish to

         eat as well

Reproduction:

        -females lay 3,000 eggs in a crack or borrow

        -nest is guarded by the male

        -eggs attach to the nest and each other to stay in place

        -newly hatched fish are only about 1/10" long

Lifespan:

        - 6 years

Behavior:

        -displays its mouth to look larger (seen above) and intimidates by snapping

         its large jaws

        -known for their aggressiveness and poor sight

        - as a result fringeheads will attack anything that comes close to its home

        -will fight with other fringeheads over territory by 'wrestling' with open

          mouths pushed together (see video below)

        -fits into small openings by backing into them, leaving the head ready to

         lash out and attack

Other facts:

        -females have smaller eyes than the males

        -related to goby's and many other saltwater fish

        -gets the 'sarcastic' part of its name from its temperament

        -'fringehead' refers to the appendages and fleshy tissue around the mouth

Sources:

     http://io9.com/5911216/meet-the-sarcastic-fringehead-an-oddly-named-fish-who-looks-like-the-predator

     http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/onlinelearningcenter/species/sarcastic_fringehead