Red Lionfish

Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfish, are a family of mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. As the name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venomous mucus. The family is a large one, with hundreds of members. They are widespread in tropical and temperate seas, but mostly found in the Indo-Pacific. They should not be confused with the cabezones, of the genus Scorpaenichthys, which belong to a separate, though related family, Cottidae.

Some types, such as the lionfish, are attractive as well as dangerous, and highly desired for aquaria. In addition to the name scorpionfish, informal names for family members include "firefish", "turkeyfish", "dragonfish", and "stingfish", usually with adjectives added.

General characteristics of family members include a compressed body, ridges and/or spines on the head, one or two spines on the operculum, and three to five spines on the preopercle. The dorsal fin will have 11 to 17 spines, often long and separated from each other, and the pectoral fins will be well-developed, with 11 to 25 rays. The spines of the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins all have venom glands at their bases.[2]

Most species are bottom-dwellers that feed on crustaceans and smaller fish. Most species inhabit shallow waters, but a few live as deep as 2,200 metres (7,200 ft).[1] Most Scorpionfish, such as the stonefish, wait in disguise for prey to pass them by before swallowing, while lionfish often ambush their prey. When not ambushing, lionfish may herd the fish, shrimp, or crab in to a corner before swallowing. Scorpionfish feed by opening their mouth, then their gills a fraction of a second apart, creating suction. Stripers, grouper, bass, snook, frogfish, toadfish, sculpin, etc., also feed this way, but the scorpionfish, toadfish and sculpins are the only members of this group that have jaw teeth.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Red
• Lionfish

[kingsk001]

heyy dude i am finding a red lion fish can u help me, do u know were i ca buy one, in the uk?

[herrmoeller]

Yo...

Drive to Plymouth, go to the beach and jump into the water. First you have to swim to the coast of Brest (France). Make a break! Than go in the water again and go to the south. You know, Morocco, on your right side you will see Gran Canaria, go ahad to the south. You will see Guinea, Nigeria, Namibia, all on your left side.

[herrmoeller]

If you can see south africa, make a turn to the north and left Madagascar on your right. On the upper corner of Somalia make a turn to the left and betwen Ethiopia and Yemen you will find your Red Lionfish.

It´s easy...

[soccergirl2900]

does your lionfish attack the other fish in the tank? I'm going to buy one but i'm not sure if these can handle being with other species...

[herrmoeller]

This is not a tank! It's the red sea...

[GameMakingDerdevel]

omg!! i saw a lion fish back when i lived in egypt when i was in the red sea!! it was by the shore and those girls almost touched it but my uncle warned them that they're poisinous so they didnt touch it!! it was so coool and so upclose!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DaCh0sen]

@vicewood Isn't that a very dangerous creature to swim around ?

Unlike all youtubers ... this is an informative question, not sarcasim ...

[Conrox48]

0:24 is there another one behind it?

[Zeromercy12]

Lionfish now in the Carib.

Very destructive with few natural predators.

Many dive operations have licenses to capture / kill these 'alien' invaders from the Pacific Ocean.

Saw a few in Provodenciales, Turks and Caicos last year.

[20MikeyovDarlo09]

I saw one when i was snorkelling in egypt

[PepsiPope]

Do you not hear the mask?

[Computergeew]

A lionfish is a beautiful water creature. It has grace, every time he looks out in the sunset. After a day of hunting, nobody knows what happens next. Had you ever seen a lionfish looking into the sunset up close?

[piratequeen357]

So pretty. Kinda sad to think that some would confine these lovely fishies in tiny little tanks when they deserve to wander the vast oceans as they're meant to.

[rockbro93]

haha everyone thinks its a tank... sigh....

[vicewood]

I have seen this fish while snorkeling in the Red Sea, it's absolutely fascinating and beautiful.