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Red lionfish

Pterois volitans
About the name: The common name "lionfish" comes from the fins, which create an appearance similar to a mane, and the scientific name volitans means "flying", probably because of the large pectoral fins that resemble wings.1
Venomous fish🌵 Venomous spinesEats: Meat
Danger to people: SeriousA bite or sting needs a doctor. Deaths are very rare.

The red lionfish is a venomous coral reef fish with long, frilled fins that look like a mane. It is native to the Indo-Pacific, but it has spread into the Caribbean, the east coast of the United States and other areas, where it is an invasive species. Its spreading is a serious problem for local reef life.1

Lives in
Native to the Indo-Pacific; invasive in the Caribbean, the US East Coast, the East Mediterranean and Brazil (Fernando de Noronha)1
The oceans
Home
It is a coral reef fish. The red lionfish was likely first introduced off the Florida coast in the early to mid-1980s, almost certainly from the aquarium trade.1
Length
47 cm (1.5 ft)1
Adults can grow as large as 47 cm. Juveniles are typically shorter than 2.5 cm.
Top speed
about 6.3 km/h (3.9 mph)
Swimming, rough guess
What does it eat?
It eats crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs, other invertebrates and small fish, including young lionfish. It corners prey with its large fins, then swallows the prey whole, mostly hunting from late afternoon to dawn.1
For real!Photo of Red lionfish
Red lionfish. Photo: Jens Petersen. CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist.

🔍 How to recognise it

  • White stripes alternate with red, maroon or brown stripes.1
  • Large venomous spines run along the back (dorsal) fin, with more on the pelvic and anal fins.1
  • Long, non-venomous fins create a mane-like outline.1
  • Adults can grow up to 47 cm long.1

Often confused with: Pterois miles is a similar relative, and both species are invasive in the same areas. The text does not say how to tell them apart.1

Venom power

Venomous spines

Sharp spines carry the venom. Stepping on it or grabbing it hurts.

What does its venom do?

Its venomous spines are used purely for defence. A sting can cause extreme pain, and possibly headaches, vomiting and breathing difficulties. The text does not say how quickly these symptoms come on.1

How dangerous is it to people?

Danger to people: SeriousA bite or sting needs a doctor. Deaths are very rare.

Its sting is usually not fatal to humans. Some people are more sensitive to the venom than others, so the effects can be more serious for them.1

What does it do when it is scared?

When threatened, it turns its venomous dorsal spines towards the attacker, even if it has to swim upside down.1

🚑 If it bites or stings

  • A common treatment is soaking the affected area in hot water, as very few hospitals carry specific treatments. Immediate emergency medical attention is strongly recommended, because some people react more strongly than others.1
  • Put the wound in hot water, as hot as the person can stand without burning (test it with your own hand), for 30 to 90 minutes. Get medical help, especially for stonefish and stingrays.

Always call your emergency number first (112, 000, 911). This is general first aid guidance, not medical advice. First aid basics

⛑️ Stay safe

  • Never touch, catch or tease a wild animal, even a small one, and even if it looks asleep or dead.
  • Give it space. If you meet one, stay calm, step back slowly and let it go its own way.
  • If one bites or stings you: stay calm, keep still, call your emergency number (112, 000, 911) or get to a hospital fast. Remember what it looked like, a photo helps.

It is not out to get you. It uses its venom to catch food or to protect itself, and it would much rather hide. More about staying safe

Where in the world?

AfricaAsiaEuropeNorth AmericaSouth AmericaAustralia & OceaniaThe oceans

How big is it?

How long is it?

Red lionfish about 47 cm long (1.5 ft)🍌A banana about 18 cm (7.1 in)A house cat about 50 cm (1.6 ft)A dog about 1 m (3.3 ft)
as long as 2.5 bananas end to endas long as 15 toy building bricks in a rowcould swim the length of a big swimming pool (50 m) in 29 seconds

How big is Red lionfish compared to YOU?

Just maths in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

How fast is it?

worth knowing

Facts

1

The larval stage is the shortest part of its life, lasting about one month.1

2

Lionfish larvae hatch 36 hours after fertilisation.1

3

It strikes at prey that comes within 9 cm of its mouth, drawing the prey in with a sudden rush of water.1

4

About 93% of the invasive lionfish population is the red lionfish.1

5

Lionfish reproduce monthly, which helps their numbers grow quickly in new areas.1

6

Its scientific name, volitans, means flying, after its large fins that look like wings.1

For venom experts

Scientific name
Pterois volitans
Group
Venomous fish
Also called
Common Lionfish, Turkey Fish, Turkeyfish1
Family
Scorpaenidae2
Order
Perciformes
Continents
The oceans
Babies
After courtship, the female releases two egg masses, and one mating session can produce up to 30,000 eggs.1
Lifespan
about 10 years1
Danger to people
3 / 5: Serious3

Where the facts come from

  1. Red lionfish (Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0))
  2. Pterois volitans (iNaturalist): names and classification.
  3. Venom Wiki: the danger level, the typical size and the speed guess are our own. See how we work them out: How we rate danger.

Every fact on this page has a number that points to its source. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are animal fans, not a science journal. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

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