Red lionfish
Classification
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Scorpaeniformes (Scorpion fishes)
- Family: Scorpaenidae
- Genus: Pterois
- Species: volitans
Morpholgy
bilateral symmetry
1. The body is white or cream colored with red to reddish brown vertical stripes with the stripes alternating from wide to very thin and sometimes even merging along the flank to form a V.
2. The Lionfish has elongated venomous dorsal and anal fin spines. There are 13 dorsal spines, 10 to 11 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, 6 to 7 anal soft rays and 2 pelvic spines. The fin membranes are often spotted or have small holes.
3. In their natural habitat they are commonly found to be between 320mm – 350mm/12.6 -13.8 inches in size, but they have been found as big as 474mm/18.7 inches.
4. In recent research conducted by REEF of non-native Lionfish, the average size found was 188mm/7.4 inches with the size range 25mm – 389mm/1 - 15.3 inches.
5. The largest Pterois Volitans / Red Lionfish specimen collected on the U.S. east coast, caught via hook and line off North Carolina in 2004, was over 430 mm/16.9 inches long and weighed approximately 1.1 kg/2.4 pounds.
6. The lifespan in the wild is up to 15 years, but as yet the lifespan in non-native waters has not been determined.
1. The body is white or cream colored with red to reddish brown vertical stripes with the stripes alternating from wide to very thin and sometimes even merging along the flank to form a V.
2. The Lionfish has elongated venomous dorsal and anal fin spines. There are 13 dorsal spines, 10 to 11 dorsal soft rays, 3 anal spines, 6 to 7 anal soft rays and 2 pelvic spines. The fin membranes are often spotted or have small holes.
3. In their natural habitat they are commonly found to be between 320mm – 350mm/12.6 -13.8 inches in size, but they have been found as big as 474mm/18.7 inches.
4. In recent research conducted by REEF of non-native Lionfish, the average size found was 188mm/7.4 inches with the size range 25mm – 389mm/1 - 15.3 inches.
5. The largest Pterois Volitans / Red Lionfish specimen collected on the U.S. east coast, caught via hook and line off North Carolina in 2004, was over 430 mm/16.9 inches long and weighed approximately 1.1 kg/2.4 pounds.
6. The lifespan in the wild is up to 15 years, but as yet the lifespan in non-native waters has not been determined.
Biology
1. Camouflage
The reef of any ocean is usually characterized by the presence of beautiful and delicate coral of all different shapes and colors. The red, white and black stripes on the lionfish allow them to camouflage suitably into the coral reefs of the Indian and the Pacific ocean which is the native place of the fish. The fish in fact get their common name from this spectacular camouflage itself, as the tentacles and stripe patterns of the fish make it look like the mane of a lion.
2. Tentacles
The tentacles of the lionfish add to their delicate and beautiful appearance, but are in fact very useful appendages since they are venomous. The fish make use of their tentacles to attract and kill prey. The tentacles are also believed to serve a role in the selection of a mate for reproduction. There is also a unique tentacle that is located above the eyes of the fish, which is said to particularly aid in attracting prey.
The reef of any ocean is usually characterized by the presence of beautiful and delicate coral of all different shapes and colors. The red, white and black stripes on the lionfish allow them to camouflage suitably into the coral reefs of the Indian and the Pacific ocean which is the native place of the fish. The fish in fact get their common name from this spectacular camouflage itself, as the tentacles and stripe patterns of the fish make it look like the mane of a lion.
2. Tentacles
The tentacles of the lionfish add to their delicate and beautiful appearance, but are in fact very useful appendages since they are venomous. The fish make use of their tentacles to attract and kill prey. The tentacles are also believed to serve a role in the selection of a mate for reproduction. There is also a unique tentacle that is located above the eyes of the fish, which is said to particularly aid in attracting prey.
Map
Facts
Lionfish can inflict a nasty, painful, agonizing sting or stab from any of their 13 dorsal, 3 anal, or 2 pelvic spines.
Lionfish have no known predators in the Atlantic and Caribbean.
A lionfish’s stomach can expand to 30 times its normal size.
The red lionfish is a solitary ambush-predator.
Lionfish reproduction is sexual. Fertilization involves complex courting and mating behaviors where males will use their spines and fins in visual displays.
Lionfish have no known predators in the Atlantic and Caribbean.
A lionfish’s stomach can expand to 30 times its normal size.
The red lionfish is a solitary ambush-predator.
Lionfish reproduction is sexual. Fertilization involves complex courting and mating behaviors where males will use their spines and fins in visual displays.
Vocabulary
arterya - blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the body's organs
atriuma - chamber that receives blood that is returning to the heart
bilea - substance produced by the liver that breaks up fat particles
capillarya - tiny blood vessel that allows an exchange between blood and cells in tissue
cartilagea - flexible and strong connective tissue
atriuma - chamber that receives blood that is returning to the heart
bilea - substance produced by the liver that breaks up fat particles
capillarya - tiny blood vessel that allows an exchange between blood and cells in tissue
cartilagea - flexible and strong connective tissue