Red Lionfish

Scientific Name: Scientific Name: Pterois volitans

Description: Lionfish have long dorsal, pectoral and anal
fins with venomous spines. Coloration is primarily red
and white striped.
Habitat: The native distribution of the red lionfish
includes warm tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and
Micronesia. However, their range is expanding due to
release from private aquariums.
1. The Red Lionfish is an inhabitant of near and offshore coral and rocky reefs to depths of 50 meters.
2. The species shows a clear preference for sheltering under ledges or in caves and crevices by day. In
captivity, the lionfish exhibits an often motionless posture, the head tilted slightly downward.
3. Lionfish are members of the scorpionfish family and exhibit characteristic features such as numerous
spiny projections and fleshy tabs on the head.
4. The venom of the red lionfish may be delivered by the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins and is known to cause
a severe reaction in humans that sometimes results in death.
5. Maximum growth recorded for this species is estimated between 12-15”.
6. The Red Lionfish is a solitary predator of small fishes, shrimps and crabs. Prey are stalked or cornered
and, ultimately, obtained with a lightning-quick snap of the lionfish’s jaws and swallowed whole.
7. Red Lionfish are external fertilizers whose larvae are planktonic.
8. The only recorded predator of the Lionfish is the cornet fish, which seizes the lionfish safely from
behind and consumes it tail first.
9. Published reports of this species in waters off the East Coast of the United States date to a number of
individuals first observed off the coast of North Carolina in August 2000.
10. Since this time, numerous observations have been recorded from South Florida to Long Island, New
York.

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