lionfish
(Pterois volitans)
This species is Introduced in the United States
Origin
Pterois volitans is native to the extensive Indo-Pacific region.
Life Cycle
Lionfish is a marine fish covered with distinctive brown or maroon-and-white stripes. Their preferred habitat is near coral reefs and rocky outcroppings in the warm marine waters of the tropics. Adults can reach up to about 17 in. (38 cm) in length. P. volitans have fleshy tentacles above the eyes and below the mouth and a fan-like pectoral fin. The 13 dorsal spines are long and separated. They have 10-11 dorsal soft rays, three anal spines, and 6-7 soft anal rays. The bright colors they display warn of the danger from P. volitans dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines which can give a painful, venomous sting. The effects can last for days, causing extreme pain, respiratory distress, and sometimes paralysis. The scales are cycloid, which are thin, overlapping, and flexible. The scales grow as the fish grows. P. volitans produce two batches of eggs each time they spawn, with 15 to 30 thousand eggs per spawn. Under optimal conditions, they can spawn several times a month all year long. This has allowed them to invade new marine habitats extremely quickly. They reach sexual maturity in about 1-2 years and live for around 15 years in the wild.
Distribution
P. volitans have been reported along the southeastern United States from Florida to North Carolina. They have also invaded the Caribbean. Juveniles have been caught off Long Island, New York and Bermuda. P. volitans are now one of the top predators in many Atlantic coral reef habitats. They consume over 50 species of fish.
Control Efforts
P. volitans has a natural predator, the grouper, which has been overfished. Atlantic populations of grouper need to be protected so they can increase to point of helping to control P. volitans. Lionfish are also edible and considered a delicacy in some areas.
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/marine-fish/scorpionfish-and-lionfish/lionfish/
Pterois volitans is native to the extensive Indo-Pacific region.
Life Cycle
Lionfish is a marine fish covered with distinctive brown or maroon-and-white stripes. Their preferred habitat is near coral reefs and rocky outcroppings in the warm marine waters of the tropics. Adults can reach up to about 17 in. (38 cm) in length. P. volitans have fleshy tentacles above the eyes and below the mouth and a fan-like pectoral fin. The 13 dorsal spines are long and separated. They have 10-11 dorsal soft rays, three anal spines, and 6-7 soft anal rays. The bright colors they display warn of the danger from P. volitans dorsal, anal, and pelvic spines which can give a painful, venomous sting. The effects can last for days, causing extreme pain, respiratory distress, and sometimes paralysis. The scales are cycloid, which are thin, overlapping, and flexible. The scales grow as the fish grows. P. volitans produce two batches of eggs each time they spawn, with 15 to 30 thousand eggs per spawn. Under optimal conditions, they can spawn several times a month all year long. This has allowed them to invade new marine habitats extremely quickly. They reach sexual maturity in about 1-2 years and live for around 15 years in the wild.
Distribution
P. volitans have been reported along the southeastern United States from Florida to North Carolina. They have also invaded the Caribbean. Juveniles have been caught off Long Island, New York and Bermuda. P. volitans are now one of the top predators in many Atlantic coral reef habitats. They consume over 50 species of fish.
Control Efforts
P. volitans has a natural predator, the grouper, which has been overfished. Atlantic populations of grouper need to be protected so they can increase to point of helping to control P. volitans. Lionfish are also edible and considered a delicacy in some areas.
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/marine-fish/scorpionfish-and-lionfish/lionfish/
Resources
- Florida's Exotic Wildlife Species Detail - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
State Lists - This map identifies those states that have this species on their invasive species list or law.
Invasive Listing Sources
- Everglades Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area
- Florida Invasive Species Partnership
- Invasive Species of Concern in Georgia
- Maryland Aquatic Nuisance Species Plan
- Maryland Invasive Species Council - Invasive Species of Concern in Maryland
- Mid-Atlantic Field Guide to Aquatic Invasive Species
- New Jersey Invasive Species Strike Team 2017 Invasive Species List
- New York Regulated and Prohibited Invasive Species - Regulated
- Southwest Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Mgmt. Area
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Animalia |
| Phylum: Chordata |
| Subphylum: Vertebrata |
| Class: Actinopterygii |
| Subclass: Neopterygii |
| Order: Scorpaeniformes |
| Family: Scorpaenidae |
| Genus: Pterois |
| Pterois volitans |