The pincer fish is a Pandoran species of predatory fish inhabiting the reefs. It is harmless to the Na'vi, but quite deadly to smaller prey.[1]
Anatomy[]
It has a light blue body with a protruding horn on the top and bottom of its jaw, forming a pincer shape, which allow the pincer fish to herd smaller prey to its mouth as well as to settle territorial disputes with rival pincer fish.[1] It has a large fin extending from its backside and connecting around its body, mottled with red and yellow markings. Its head draws some similarities with the Terran rhinoceros beetle and other arthropods with similar features. In order to move, the pincer fish waves its fin in an undulating fashion.
Development[]
Initial sketch by James Cameron
The concept art team around Dylan Cole was tasked with sketching out numerous designs for all kinds of alien fish. James Cameron wanted to show sequences with a reef full of life. Creature designer Zachary Berger initially envisioned the pincer fish as more of parrotfish with a beak-like mouth meant for chewing coral. After presenting their initial pile of sketches of alien fish to Cameron, he was not very fond of many of the designs. They felt too Earth-like and not alien enough to him so he proceeded to sketch about a dozen silhouettes of alien fish designs which eventually became many of the fish designs that can be seen close to the camera in Avatar: The Way of Water. The pincer fish was one of these sketches. He saw the fish as more of a predator so the fish ended up with teeth from a harlequin tuskfish and big horns inspired the Hercules beetle to root through coral and scare out small prey.[2]
Appearances[]
A pincer fish on the right
While Lo'ak was taking his first free diving lessons with Tsireya, Rotxo, Aonung, and his siblings, he spotted a pincer fish, watching as it swam by him.
Trivia[]
- In A Visual Exploration, they are depicted more cyan in color. Their image was updated for the Pandorapedia and The Visual Dictionary.
References[]
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