This Fighting Style is Playfully Referred to by Scientists as the “Kiss of Death”.
According to scientists, this species is the wide-mouthed bass Neoclinus blanchardi. Unlike humans, who use kisses to express affection, this fish employs this unique method to “fight”.
The “Kiss of Death” fighting style of the Neoclinus blanchardi.
These male fish use their massive and powerful mouths to engage in combat. Moreover, they don’t only use their mouths to attack their own kind. If you approach the hiding place of these wide-mouthed bass on the ocean floor, they might unexpectedly rush out to attack you.
Research shows that the habitat of Neoclinus blanchardi is primarily concentrated in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of South America, at depths ranging from 3 to 73 meters. These fish can grow up to 30 cm long and are often found in temperate waters rich with coral reefs.
They typically choose their shelters in crevices on the ocean floor, discarded shell casings, or even abandoned cans.
This species tends to have a very high territorial defense instinct.
This species lacks scales, having only reduced pectoral and pelvic fins. The wide-mouthed bass primarily lives in the nooks or cracks of underwater rock formations, only poking their heads out.
They exhibit a strong territorial instinct, ready to fight off any creature that dares to invade their territory. When two wide-mouthed bass engage in battle, they determine the winner by measuring the size of their mouths; the larger mouth wins.
In fact, these fish do not aim to harm each other. The males often display their wide mouths primarily to intimidate their opponents. Their mouths can expand up to four times their size when closed. Of course, with their sharp teeth, they can still inflict damage on their adversaries.
Neoclinus blanchardi fear nothing, not even humans.
This wide mouth can sometimes hinder them while foraging. It does not create the necessary suction force to draw plankton towards their mouths. Therefore, these fish must hunt small fish or feed on squid eggs.
After the female lays eggs in a rock crevice, the male takes on the responsibility of protecting the eggs. When threatened, the fish often open their mouths wide as a warning. If the threat persists, beware of the sharp teeth of this species. The wide-mouthed bass has poor eyesight, which means it only recognizes threats when they approach very closely.
Neoclinus blanchardi is quite “intimidating.” It fears nothing, not even humans, and is regarded as a “rather interesting player” of the ocean.
