Lionfish Biology Fact Sheet
Left: Profile of a lionfish showing the distinctive fleshy tentacles above the eyes and below the mouth. Right: Top view of Lionfish.
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Warning! Lionfish are beautiful but dangerous. Look, but don't touch!
Biological Classification
Kingdom & Animalia
(all the animals)
Phylum & Chordata
(animals with a spinal cord)
Subphylum & Vertebrata
(animals with backbones)
Class – Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order & Scorpaeniformes
(scorpion fishes and sculpins)
Family & Scorpaenidae
(firefishes, goblinfishes, rockfishes,
and scorpionfishes)
Genus & Pterois
(lionfishes, turkeyfishes,
and zebrafishes)
Species & volitans (meaning volatile or poisonous)
Common Names: lionfish, zebrafish, firefish, turkeyfish, red lionfish, butterfly cod, ornate butterfly-cod, peacock lionfish, red firefish, scorpion volitans, devil firefish
Scientific Name: Pterois volitans (red lionfish) and Pterois miles (devil firefish)
Identification: Lionfish have distinctive brown or maroon, and white stripes or bands covering the head and body.
They have fleshy tentacles above their eyes fan- long, 13 10-11 3 and 6-7 anal soft . An adult lionfish can grow as large as 18 inches, while
may be as small as 1 inch or less. Lionfish have .
Native Range: The South Pacific and Indian Oceans (i.e., the Indo-Pacific region). The range of the lionfish covers a very large area from western Australia and Malaysia east to French Polynesia and the United Kingdom's Pitcairn Islands, north to southern Japan and southern Korea and south to Lord Howe Island off the east coast of Australia and the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand. In between, the species is found throughout Micronesia.
Non-native Range: Lionfish have been reported along the southeastern United States coast from Florida to North Carolina. Juvenile lionfish have been collected in waters off Long Island, New York, and Bermuda. Lionfish are a popular marine ornamental fish and were possibly intentionally released into the Atlantic. The first lionfish was reported in South Florida waters in 1985 with many additional sightings occurring until they were documented as established in the early 2000s.
Habitat: Lionfish are found in mostly all marine habitat types found in warm marine waters of the tropics. Lionfish have been found in water depths from 1 to 1000 feet on hard bottom, mangrove, seagrass, coral, and artificial reefs (like shipwrecks).
Ecological Role: Lionfish are slow-moving and conspicuous, so they must rely on their unusual
coloration and fins to discourage would-be
from eating them. Lionfish are now one of the top predators in many coral reef environments of the Atlantic. Lionfish consume over 50 species of fish including some economically and ecologically important species. Lionfish are active hunters who ambush their prey by using their outstretched, fan-like
fins to slowly pursue and &corner& them.
The cycloid scales of lionfish (Pterois volitans). Click
on image for larger view and further details.
Lionfish are thought to be nocturnal hunters, but they have been found with full stomachs during the day in the Atlantic. They move about by slowly undulating the soft rays of the dorsal and anal fins. During the day, they sometimes retreat to ledges and crevices among the rocks and corals. Although in the Atlantic, lionfish are often seen moving about during the day, both alone and in small groups.
Economic Importance: Although lionfish have been used as a food source in their
range, economically, they are far more important in the aquarium trade. Lionfish are very popular and common aquarium fish, especially in the U.S.
Lionfish are
to the warm, tropical waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans (i.e., the Indo-Pacific region), including the Red Sea. Their native range is shown in orange on the map.).&Click
on image for larger view and further details.
Conservation Status: Lionfish are not currently listed as threatened or
in their native range. However, the increase in pollution in coral reefs may negatively affect the lionfish's primary food sources (crustaceans and fish). If lionfish are unable to adapt to declines in their prey species, their numbers may decrease.
Special Precautions: The spines of this species deliver a
sting that can last for days and cause extreme pain, sweating, respiratory distress, and even paralysis. Lionfish venom glands are located within two grooves of the spine. The venom is a combination of protein, a
toxin and a
(pronunciation: ah-see-toe-coe'-lean). After the spine punctures the skin, the venom enters the wound when exposed to the venom glands within the grooves of the spine. If you are stung by a lionfish, seek medical attention immediately.
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May 31, 2011
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