Lionfish | Invasive Species, Sting, & Facts
The lionfish is a beautiful and interesting fish with long spines, flashy fins and shiny stripes. However, in the wild, sometimes shiny and beautiful are synonymous with “dangerous” and this is the case with lionfish. Its bright color announces its poisonous spines. The scientific name of the lionfish is Pterois. There are fifteen different species in the genus Pterois.
Where does the lionfish live?
Lionfish are found in the South Pacific Ocean. They prefer to live in coral reefs, rocky areas and lagoons.
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Lionfish are also accidentally introduced off the east coast of the United States and into the Caribbean. It could be from an aquarium that broke during a hurricane in Florida. Now the lionfish have established themselves and are causing problems for local marine life.
What does Lionfish eat?
Lionfish are good hunters. They do not use venomous spines to hunt. When approaching prey, they use their large pectoral fins to lunge at their prey and swallow it whole with a single bite. Some of their favorite foods include mollusks, small fish, and invertebrates.
How poisonous is the Lionfish?
The spines of the lionfish have stingers that are used to defend themselves against predators. The sting is quite strong and can be dangerous to humans. Lionfish stings are very painful and can make a person very ill, including fever and difficulty breathing. However, most people do not die from a lionfish sting.
How big is a Lionfish?
Lionfish are about 12 to 15 inches long and weigh about 2 1/2 pounds. They can live 10 to 15 years in the wild. One of the most famous lionfish is the red lionfish. It is known for its red, white and dark brown vertical stripes. These fish may have several protruding spines and fins, including 13 or more dorsal spines and skin fringes above the eyes and below the mouth.
Interesting Facts about the Lionfish
Lionfish are known to be aggressive towards humans.
Some nicknames for lionfish include scorpion fish, turkey fish, and arowana.
Because they are very beautiful and cool, they are very popular aquarium fish.
Nicknames for some other lionfish include hairy, fu-manchu, dwarf, and radial.
In some countries, people eat lionfish and they are considered a delicacy.
It is a relatively solitary animal, meeting only other lionfish to mate.
Females lay several thousand eggs. The eggs hatch within a few days and the young, called fry, live near the surface until they are large enough to swim to the reef.