Pterois volitans or Lionfish are marine fish covered with distinctive brown or maroon-and-white stripes. 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 to 11 dorsal soft rays, three anal spines, and six to seven 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 is native to the extensive Indo-Pacific region. Their preferred habitat is near coral reefs and rocky outcroppings in the warm marine waters of the tropics.
Life Cycle
P. volitans produce two batches of eggs each time they 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.
Distribution
P. volitans have now 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. P. volitans is also edible and considered a delicacy in some areas.