Lionfish

ID points

• Alternating red and white bars over the whole body
• Pectoral and dorsal fins spread into fans of long spines
• Hovers beside the reef wall, almost motionless

Basics

Family

Scorpaenidae

Length

20–38 cm

Depth

1-80 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Coral reefs of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, now invasive in the Atlantic

Habitat

Coral reef walls and ledges

Diet

Small fish, shrimp

Easily confused with

ScorpionfishHead covered in skin flaps and spines, breaking up its outlineLeaf ScorpionfishBody extremely flattened side to side, like a fallen leafMimic OctopusBold brown and white stripes cover the arms

Fun fact

A lionfish carries venom in 13 dorsal spines, and its bold stripes are a warning to anything thinking of a bite. As an invasive species it has caused a serious ecological crisis in the Atlantic.