The red lionfish is a venomous, showy reef fish from the western and central Pacific that has become a major marine invader in U.S. waters. First reported off South Florida in 1985, likely from released aquarium pets, it now lives along the Southeast coast, in the Gulf, and across the Caribbean, where it eats huge numbers of native reef fish.
Appearance
- Appearance
- White to cream with red to reddish-brown vertical stripes, huge fan-like , and long, separated dorsal spines. Adults reach about 18 in (47 cm).
Look-alikes
Practically impossible to tell apart by sight. The devil firefish usually has one fewer dorsal fin ray (10 vs. 11) and one fewer anal fin ray (6 vs. 7); only genetic testing gives a sure answer.
Why they get mixed upA close relative that also invaded the Atlantic. About 93% of invasive lionfish there are red lionfish and 7% are devil firefish.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Coral and rocky reefs
- Shipwrecks and artificial reefs
- Seagrass beds
- Range
- Native to the western and central Pacific, from southern Japan to Australia and French Polynesia. In the U.S. it is established along the Atlantic coast from the Florida Keys to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in the Gulf, and in Puerto Rico. It has been seen as far north as Long Island, New York, but isn't likely to survive winters north of North Carolina.
- Preferred conditions
- Hard bottom, reefs, wrecks, and bridge pilings from a few inches to over 1,000 ft (300 m) deep. It has been seen in water as cold as 56°F (13°C).
Behavior
- Diet
- Small fish and crustaceans such as shrimp and crabs. It herds prey into a corner with its spread fins and swallows it whole. In the Atlantic it has been found to eat more than 50 kinds of fish.
- Activity
- Mostly rests in crevices by day and hunts from late afternoon to dawn. Adults usually live alone.
Life cycle
- Breeding season
- Year-round in warm water.
- Clutch size
- Females release eggs in floating jelly-like masses, up to about 2 million eggs a year.
- Lifespan
- About 10 years.
Cautions
- Cautions
- Its 13 dorsal, 2 pelvic, and 3 anal spines carry venom. A sting causes severe pain that can last days, and sometimes sweating or trouble breathing; get medical care right away.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
- Threats
- A single lionfish on a small Bahamian reef cut the number of young native fish settling there by 79% in five weeks. It also competes with already overfished snapper and grouper.
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- Lionfish are a popular saltwater aquarium fish.
- To help keep their numbers down, conservation groups encourage people to catch and eat lionfish.
More species to explore
Record what you meet and build your own collection
Your photos are kept with their date and place, and you can fill regional albums one species at a time.