Red lionfish
A venomous invasive reef fish with distinctive striped fins.
The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous fish from the Scorpaenidae family that lives on coral reefs. It originally comes from the Indo-Pacific, but it has spread as an invasive species to the Caribbean, the U.S. East Coast, the eastern Mediterranean, and Brazil’s Fernando de Noronha. Its body is covered in white stripes alternating with red, maroon, or brown ones. Adults can reach up to 47 centimeters long, making them among the largest lionfish species. They live about 10 years on average. Like other scorpionfish, they have venomous spines: 13 on the dorsal fin, 2 on the pelvic fins, and 3 on the anal fin. These spines, along with long non-venomous fins, create a mane-like look that gives them the name “lionfish.” The dorsal spines keep most predators away. Lionfish breed monthly, and their larvae spread quickly, helping them expand into new areas. No definitive predators are known, so many groups encourage people to catch and eat them to control their high numbers. The species was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus as *Gasterosteus volitans*, based on a specimen from Ambon Island, Indonesia. In 1856, French naturalist Eugène Desmarest designated *Scorpaena volitans* (named by Bloch in 1787, the same as Linnaeus’s fish) as the type species for the genus *Pterois*, which had been created by Oken in 1817. A molecular study of this species, the common lionfish, the luna lionfish, and Russell’s lionfish found that common lionfish in the western Indian Ocean form one lineage; a second lineage includes both luna and Russell’s lionfish (suggesting they are the same species); and the red lionfish forms a third lineage with genetic contributions from the other two. This suggests the red lionfish arose from hybrids between *P. miles* and *P. russelii*. The name *volitans* means “flying,” likely referring to its large pectoral fins that look like wings. *P. volitans* is native to the Indo-Pacific, including the western and central Pacific and off western Australia. It has been introduced to the western Atlantic, where it is invasive, as well as the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Lionfish are mostly solitary, gathering only to court—usually one male with several females. Both *P. volitans* and *P.
Quick Facts
- Genus
- Pterois
- Species
- volitans
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The red lionfish is clad in white stripes alternated with red, maroon, or brown stripes. Adults can grow as large as 47 cm in length, making it one of the largest lionfish species, while juveniles are typically shorter than 1 inch. It has large, venomous spines on its dorsal fin (13), pelvic fins (2), and anal fins (3), which together with long non-venomous fins create a mane-like appearance, giving it the common name 'lionfish'. Native to the Indo-Pacific, including the western and central Pacific and off the coast of western Australia, the species has been introduced into the Western Atlantic, becoming invasive in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. It is mainly a solitary species and is mostly nocturnal. The lionfish are voracious feeders, hunting primarily from late afternoon to dawn, using a 'persistent-pursuit strategy' to capture prey. Reproduction occurs monthly. Courtship involves circling, sidewinding, following, and leading, typically around nightfall. The female releases two egg masses, fertilized by the male, which float to the surface. Embryos secrete an adhesive mucus to attach to intertidal rocks and corals. Females can lay up to 30,000 eggs per mating session, with more eggs laid in warmer months. Larvae hatch 36 hours after fertilization and the larval stage lasts about one month.
Reader's Guide
The red lionfish is a venomous coral reef fish that has become a significant invasive species, particularly in the Caribbean and along the East Coast of the United States. About 93% of the invasive lionfish population is the red lionfish, likely introduced off the Florida coast in the early to mid-1980s from the aquarium trade. Adults are now found from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Florida, and throughout the Caribbean and Bermuda. In its native range, two species of moray eels and the Bobbit worm prey on lionfish, but in invaded areas few predators are documented; Nassau and tiger groupers have been found with lionfish in their stomachs, but the former is critically endangered. The lionfish themselves are voracious feeders, outcompeting overfished snapper and grouper and disrupting food chains. They consume crustaceans, other invertebrates, and small fishes, including juveniles of their own species. Their venomous dorsal spines are used purely for defense; the sting is usually not fatal to humans but causes extreme pain, headaches, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. Treatment involves soaking the afflicted area in hot water, and immediate emergency medical attention is recommended. Many organizations promote harvest and consumption of lionfish to control populations.
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