Zebra lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Dendrochirus zebra
- Common name
- Zebra lionfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Scorpaenidae
- Genus
- Dendrochirus
- Size
- 8–25 cm
- Depth
- 1–80 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Venomous
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, predator, venomous
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea
Description
Dendrochirus zebra reaches 25 cm. Indo-Pacific lionfish with stocky body vertically striped with red-orange and white bands, round fan-shaped pectoral fins shorter and wider than Pterois (hence Dendrochirus, tree-like hands), spotted caudal fin. Venomous spines. Lives from 1 to 80 m on coral and rocky reefs of entire Indo-Pacific. Smaller and more compact than Pterois. Ambush predator of small fish and crustaceans. Signature macro photo subject of Lembeh dives.
Photo of Zebra lionfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Zebra lionfish?
- Zebra lionfish (Dendrochirus zebra) reaches 8–25 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Zebra lionfish?
- Zebra lionfish is found between 1–80 m deep.
- Is the Zebra lionfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Venomous.
- What is the conservation status of the Zebra lionfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Zebra lionfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea.
Other species in the genus Dendrochirus
Other species in the family Scorpaenidae
- Scorpaena scrofa - Red scorpionfish
- Pterois volitans - Red lionfish
- Pterois radiata - Clearfin lionfish
- Pterois antennata - Spotfin lionfish
- Pterois miles - Devil firefish
- Scorpaena mystes - Pacific scorpionfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 218053)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2334538)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia