Animal Profiles
Fish

Lionfish

Pterois

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Lionfishes are striking marine predators with long fin rays and venomous spines. This account describes the red lionfish, a reef hunter that eats small fishes and crustaceans.

Red lionfish (Pterois volitans), the representative described here.

Red lionfish (Pterois volitans), the representative described here.

Photo by Jens Petersen , Edited by User:Olegiwit (cloned in part of fins) and Fir0002 (removed spots and noise) · CC BY

At a glance

Location
Pterois volitans is the representative described here. Its native region is the Indo-Pacific; populations introduced to Atlantic waters have a different geographic history. Reef crevices and rocky cover provide shelter.
Habitat
Coral reef, Coast
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Red lionfish stalk small animals around reefs, with much feeding near dusk and after dark.

Classification

Common name
Lionfish
Browse group
Fish
Scientific name or taxon
Pterois
Taxon rank
genus
Order
Scorpaeniformes
Family
Scorpaenidae
Genus
Pterois
Source classification
Actinopterygii

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • Its fin spines are venomous.
  • It eats small fishes and crustaceans.
  • It often shelters by day.

Habitat and range

Pterois volitans is the representative described here. Its native region is the Indo-Pacific; populations introduced to Atlantic waters have a different geographic history. Reef crevices and rocky cover provide shelter.

Appearance and adaptations

Reddish or brown bands cross a pale body. Long pectoral rays spread around the fish, while strong spines rise from the dorsal fin. The ornate outline should not obscure its role as a predator.

Diet and behaviour

Red lionfish stalk small animals around reefs, with much feeding near dusk and after dark. They often shelter among rocks or coral during the day. Their venomous spines serve in defence.

Sources

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