Spotfin lionfish (Pterois antennata)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Pterois antennata
- Common name
- Spotfin lionfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Scorpaenidae
- Genus
- Pterois
- Size
- 12–20 cm
- Depth
- 1–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Venomous
- Habitats
- coral-reef, cave
- Behaviours
- solitary, predator, venomous
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Mediterranean
Description
Pterois antennata reaches 20 cm. Small Indo-Pacific lionfish with brown-red body vertically striped with white bands, long pectoral fins in transparent white feathers resembling antennae (hence antennata). All spines venomous like P. volitans. Lives from 1 to 50 m in caves, under corals and drop-offs of coral reefs of entire Indo-Pacific. More discreet and smaller than P. volitans. Nocturnal ambush predator. Privileged macro photo subject for deployed wings, beware of spines.
Photo of Spotfin lionfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Spotfin lionfish?
- Spotfin lionfish (Pterois antennata) reaches 12–20 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Spotfin lionfish?
- Spotfin lionfish is found between 1–50 m deep.
- Is the Spotfin lionfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Venomous.
- What is the conservation status of the Spotfin lionfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Spotfin lionfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Mediterranean.
Other species in the genus Pterois
Other species in the family Scorpaenidae
- Scorpaena scrofa - Red scorpionfish
- Dendrochirus zebra - Zebra lionfish
- Dendrochirus brachypterus - Shortfin lionfish
- Scorpaena mystes - Pacific scorpionfish
- Scorpaena guttata - California scorpionfish
- Scorpaena porcus - Black scorpionfish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 218081)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2334443)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia