Red lionfish (Pterois volitans)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Pterois volitans
- Common name
- Red lionfish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Scorpaenidae
- Genus
- Pterois
- Size
- 30–47 cm
- Depth
- 1–175 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Venomous
- Habitats
- coral-reef, rocky-reef
- Behaviours
- benthic, nocturnal
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Pterois volitans reaches 47 cm. Lionfish (Scorpaenidae) Indo-Pacific with compressed body vertically striped red-brown-black-white with long fan-spread pectoral fins and venomous dorsal spines (18 spines, 13 dorsal). Lives from 1 to 175 m on coral and rocky reefs. Devastating invasive in West Atlantic (Caribbean, Florida, eastern Mediterranean), actively fished. Opportunistic predator. Iconic dive photo subject but dangerous, spines very painful for unwary divers.
Photo of Red lionfish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Red lionfish?
- Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) reaches 30–47 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Red lionfish?
- Red lionfish is found between 1–175 m deep.
- Is the Red lionfish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Venomous.
- What is the conservation status of the Red lionfish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Red lionfish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Pterois
- Pterois radiata - Clearfin lionfish
- Pterois antennata - Spotfin lionfish
- Pterois miles - Devil firefish
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 159559)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2334438)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia