Red lionfish

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Red lionfish

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Pterois
Species:
P. volitans
Binomial name
Pterois volitans

The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish in the family Scorpaenidae, order Scorpaeniformes. It is mainly native to the Indo-Pacific region, but has become an invasive species in the Caribbean Sea, as well as along the East Coast of the United States and East Mediterranean and also found in Brazil at Fernando de Noronha.[2]

P. volitans and a similar relative,

population densities
.

Red lionfish in Indonesia

Taxonomy

The red lionfish was first formally

sensu lato.[7] The specific name volitans means "flying", presumed to be a reference to the large pectotral fins resembling wings.[8]

Distribution

P. volitans is native to the Indo-Pacific region,[9] including the western and central Pacific and off the coast of western Australia. However, the species has been introduced into the Western Atlantic, becoming an invasive species there as well as in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

(Video) Red lionfish swimming in a fish tank.

Life history and behavior

Reproduction

They are mainly a solitary species and courting is the only time they aggregate, generally one male with several females.

nocturnal, leading to the behaviors typically around nightfall and continuing through the night. After courtship, the female releases two egg masses, fertilized by the male before floating to the surface. The embryos secrete an adhesive mucous allowing them to attach to nearby intertidal rocks and corals before hatching. During one mating session, females can lay up to 30,000 eggs. However, it has been observed that females will lay more eggs in the warmer months.[10]

Predators and prey

In its invasive range, few predators of the lionfish have been documented. Most larger Atlantic and Caribbean fish and sharks that should be able to eat the lionfish have not recognized them as

moray eels were found preying on lionfish.[12] The Bobbit worm, an ambush predator, has been filmed preying upon lionfish in Indonesia;[13]
similar species inhabit the Caribbean.

The lionfish themselves are voracious feeders and have outcompeted and filled the niche of the overfished

ecosystems
they have invaded. Between outcompeting similar fish and having a varied diet, the lionfish is drastically changing and disrupting the food chains holding the marine ecosystems together. As these chains are disrupted, declining densities of other fish populations are found, as well as declines in the overall diversity of coral reef areas.

Early life history and dispersal

Although little is known about the larval stage of the lionfish, some traits of the larvae include a large head, a long, triangular snout, long, serrated head spines, a large pelvic spine, and coloration only in the pelvic fins. Larvae hatch 36 hours after fertilization.[4] They are good swimmers and can eat small ciliates just four days after conception.[4] The larval stage is the shortest stage of the lionfish's life, with a duration of about one month.[17]

Venom

Lionfish venomous dorsal spines are used purely for defense.[

disputed ] They are slow swimmers, so when threatened, the fish turns these spines towards its attacker, even if this means swimming upside down. However, its sting is usually not fatal to humans. Envenomed humans will experience extreme pain, and possibly headaches, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. A common treatment is soaking the afflicted area in hot water, as very few hospitals carry specific treatments.[18][19][20]
However, immediate emergency medical attention is strongly recommended, as some people are more sensitive to the venom than others.

As an invasive species

Two of the 15 species of Pterois, P. volitans and P. miles, have established themselves as significant

St. Croix, Belize, Honduras, Aruba, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Saint Lucia, St. Martin, and Mexico.[24] It also is in Brazil at Fernando de Noronha.[25]

References

  1. . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles)". Species Profile. 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  3. ^ "World Record Size Lionfish | What is the Largest Lionfish Ever Caught?".
  4. ^ a b c d Encyclopedia of Life (EOL). (2011, January 19). Retrieved 4 May 2011 from (http://eol.org)
  5. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Pterois". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  6. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Scorpaenidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  7. PMID 28637254
    .
  8. ^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (2 October 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  9. . Where is it from? Eastern Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
  10. ^ Leis, Carson-Ewart. The Larvae of Indo-Pacific Coastal Fishes. Australian Museum.
  11. ProQuest 235788303
    .
  12. .
  13. ^ "Who Named the Bobbit Worm (Eunice sp.)? And WHAT species is it.. truly??". 2014-08-13.
  14. ^ "Pterois volitans (Red Lionfish)" (PDF). University of the West Indies. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Pterois volitans (Red firefish)". Animal Diversity Web.
  16. JSTOR 24873867
    .
  17. .
  18. .
  19. OCLC 16986801. Archived from the original on June 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-13.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  20. .
  21. .
  22. .
  23. ^ Is the Aquarium Trade to Blame?
  24. S2CID 41535139
    .
  25. ^ Marinho, Ana Clara (28 August 2021). "Quarto peixe invasor venenoso é capturado em Fernando de Noronha em menos de um mês" [Fourth invasive poisonous fish is caught in Fernando de Noronha in less than a month]. Grupo Globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 May 2023.

External links