Red Lionfish

(Pterois volitans)

Find Me In
Pirates Passage
IUCN Conservation Status
Least Concern (LC)

Habitat/Range

Indian and Southwest Pacific Oceans coral reefs

Size

Size: 12-15 inches

Weight: Up to 2.6 lbs.

Lifespan: 10-15 years

Diet

Small fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic invertebrates.

Audio Tour

Learn about how Red Lionfish are invasive species

The Red lionfish, also known as the turkey fish or fire fish, is known for its venomous dorsal spines capable of producing painful, though rarely fatal, puncture wounds. Red lionfish have large pectoral fins and bold zebra-like stripes with red, brown, and white coloring. When threatened, the fish will display their fins as an intimidation tactic and, if further threatened, will attack predators with those dorsal spines. The red lionfish is native to South Pacific reef ecosystems and is highly invasive along Florida coasts as it is a very successful predator.

Things To Know


Types
Fish



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