Female Zoarchias major Eelpouts Fighting | Japan

This is a female Zoarchias major eelpout approaching another one that has occupied a hole in the reef. The aggressor has clamped her mouth on the occupying fish in an attempt to intimidate and force her out of the hole. Individuals of this species engage in such battles over holes while they are in shallow waters. Females and males alike intimidate both females and males in a continual process of claiming and losing holes. The holes themselves are often those used by blennies, which have been displaced by these fish, but return to the holes once these fish disappear. The purpose of these battles is not clear.

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Filename: zoarchias-major-eelpout-females-fighting-japan-201806-0839.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication, reproduction or usage without prior written permission.
Image Size: 4090x2727 / 32.0MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Eelpout Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Actinopterygii Perciformes Zoarcidae Neozoarcinae Zoarchias major Ookazunagi オオカズナギ Open Mouth Fighting Reproduction Pacific Japan Yamaguchi Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life | Japan, Wide-Angle Macro, Fish Photos

This is a female Zoarchias major eelpout approaching another one that has occupied a hole in the reef. The aggressor has clamped her mouth on the occupying fish in an attempt to intimidate and force her out of the hole. Individuals of this species engage in such battles over holes while they are in shallow waters. Females and males alike intimidate both females and males in a continual process of claiming and losing holes. The holes themselves are often those used by blennies, which have been displaced by these fish, but return to the holes once these fish disappear. The purpose of these battles is not clear.