Lionfish in Red Sea near Hurghada

Lionfish, Peleliu, Palau

Lionfish at the Dallas World Aquarium

A Lionfish is any of several species of venomous marine fish in the genera Pterois, Parapterois, Brachypterois, Ebosia or Dendrochirus, of the family Scorpaenidae. The lionfish is also known as the Turkey Fish, Dragon Fish, and Scorpion Fish. [1] The lionfish are voracious predators. When they are hunting, they corner prey using their large fins and then use their lightning quick reflexes to swallow the prey whole. They are notable for their extremely long and separated spines, and have a generally striped appearance, red, brown, orange, yellow, black, or white. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 1243 KB) Summary Took this picture while scuba diving in a coral reef in Hurghada, Egypt Pterois volitans, fam. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 1243 KB) Summary Took this picture while scuba diving in a coral reef in Hurghada, Egypt Pterois volitans, fam. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Lionfish_in_palau. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Lionfish_in_palau. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3888 × 2592 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 533 pixelsFull resolution (3888 × 2592 pixel, file size: 3. ... 3 yellow-spotted stingrays at the Dallas World Aquarium. ... Wasp sting, with droplet of venom Venom (literally, poison of animal origin) is any of a variety of toxins used by animals, for the purpose of defense and hunting. ... A giant grouper at the Georgia Aquarium Fish are aquatic vertebrates that are typically cold-blooded; covered with scales, and equipped with two sets of paired fins and several unpaired fins. ... For other uses of the word, please see Genus (disambiguation). ... Species Pterois antennaria Pterois cincta Pterois cristatus Pterois ellioti Pterois geniserra Pterois kodipungi Pterois muricata Pterois radiata Pterois rebel Pterois russelii Pterois sphex Pterois zebra Pterois vittata Pterois volitans et al. ... Species[1] (Bleeker, 1856) (Alcock, 1896) Parapterois is a genus of lionfish, a group of venomous fish in the scorpionfish family. ... Binomial name Brachypterois serrulata (Richardson, 1846) Brachypterois serrulata is a marine fish that is the only member of the genus Brachypterois. ... Species Ebosia bleekeri Ebosia falcata Ebosia kagoshimae Ebosia is a genus of marine fish. ... Species D. biocellatus D. zebra Dendrochirus is a genus of marine fish that are mostly known as Dwarf Lionfish. ... Genera (many) The scorpionfishes or rockfishes are a family (Scorpaenidae) of mostly marine fish that includes many of the worlds most venomous species. ...

The group of fishes has been classified as a subfamily (Pteroinae) or as a tribe under Scorpaeninae (Pteroini).

While the hardiness and disease resistance of the lionfish make their care relatively simple, the venom of the spines is extremely painful, and lionfish are recommended for only the careful aquarist.

The lionfish is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region of the world, but various species can be found worldwide. Due to a recent introduction, the lionfish has recently been spotted in the warmer coral regions of the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.[2] Successful breeding of the lionfish in captivity has not been reported. Map of Central America and the Caribbean Caribbean Sea from space (top left). ...

Habitat

Lionfish are usually found in the Indo-Pacific, near and offshore coral and rocky reefs. There have also been sightings of lionfish in the Eastern Atlantic coast from Long Island to Florida. Lionfish can also be found in bays, estuaries, and even harbors. They show a clear preference for ledges, caves, and crevices, by day. Although they have been spotted a few times feeding during the day, it is believed that they are mostly nocturnal.

Venom

Lionfish are members of the scorpionfish family Scorpaenidae, and have venomous dorsal, pelvic and anal spines. Typically they have 12 to 13 dorsal spines, 2 pelvic spines and 3 anal spines. Each spine contains two grooves containing venom producing tissue. The ornate pectoral fins, though similar in appearance the dorsal fins, are not equipped with these glands. Genera (many) The scorpionfishes or rockfishes are a family (Scorpaenidae) of mostly marine fish that includes many of the worlds most venomous species. ...

The severity of an envenomation event may depend on the species and the size of the lionfish. The predominate effects of the lionfish venom are severe pain and swelling (edema) in the area around the wound. Other systematic responses such as nausea, dizziness, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, hypotension, and headache have been recorded either from the venom or as a reaction to level of pain.

In a series of 101 documented cases of captive lionfish envenomations in the US, the following effects were reported (Gallagher, 2001):

• 92% of patients experienced local pain
• 60% of patients experienced edema
• 13% of patients experienced systematic symptoms
• 1% of patients experienced tissue necrosis
• 0% of patients experienced death

In another study of 45 documented cases of captive lionfish envenomations reported to the San Francisco Poison Control Center over a 5 year span, the following effects were reported (Kizer, et al, 1985): Edema (American English) or oedema (British English), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is swelling of any organ or tissue due to accumulation of excess lymph fluid, without an increase of the number of cells in the affected tissue. ... Necrosis (in Greek Νεκρός = Dead) is the name given to unprogrammed death of cells and living tissue. ...

• 100% of patients experienced local pain
• 22% of patients experienced pain extending through the affected extremity
• 13% of patients experienced systemic symptoms
• 0% of patients experienced death

Response

Lionfish venom is comprised of thermolabile proteins which, as their name suggests, are vulnerable to heat and denature quite easily. First aid techniques are to immerse wound in hot water(43 – 45 °C) for 30 to 40 min or until pain diminishes.

Species

Clearfin lionfish, Pterois Radiata

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1372x1294, 1096 KB) Clearfin lionfish (Pterois radiata). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1372x1294, 1096 KB) Clearfin lionfish (Pterois radiata). ... Binomial name Pterois radiata Cuvier, 1829 The clearfin lionfish or radial firefish (Pterois radiata) is a carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives in the Indian and western Pacific oceans. ...

Genus Pterois

• Red lionfish Pterois volitans (Peacock lionfish, lionfish, red firefish)
• Plaintail turkeyfish Pterois russelii
• Broadbarred firefish Pterois antennata (Banded lionfish, Spotfin lionfish)
• Radial firefish Pterois radiata (Clearfin lionfish, Tailbar lionfish, Whitefin lionfish, Clearfin Turkeyfish)
• Hawaiian turkeyfish Pterois sphex (Hawaiian Lionfish)
• Frillfin Turkeyfish Pterois mombasae
• Luna lionfish Pterois lunulata
• Pterois kodipungi

Species Pterois antennaria Pterois cincta Pterois cristatus Pterois ellioti Pterois geniserra Pterois kodipungi Pterois muricata Pterois radiata Pterois rebel Pterois russelii Pterois sphex Pterois zebra Pterois vittata Pterois volitans et al. ... Binomial name Pterois volitans Linnaeus, 1758 The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish from the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. ... Binomial name Pterois radiata Cuvier, 1829 The clearfin lionfish or radial firefish (Pterois radiata) is a carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives in the Indian and western Pacific oceans. ...

Genus Dendrochirus

• Twospot turkeyfish Dendrochirus biocellatus (Twinspot lionfish)
• Shortfin turkeyfish Dendrochirus brachypterus (Shortfin lionfish)
• Zebra turkeyfish Dendrochirus zebra (Dwarf lionfish, Zebra lionfish)
• Green Lionfish Dendrochirus barberi (Hawaiian Lionfish)
• Bellus Lionfish Dendrochirus bellus

Species D. biocellatus D. zebra Dendrochirus is a genus of marine fish that are mostly known as Dwarf Lionfish. ... Binomial name Dendrochirus biocellatus Twospot turkeyfish (or alternatively known as Twinspot lionfish or Dendrochirus biocellatus) is a Lionfish species. ... Binomial name Pterois zebra Cuvier, 1829 The Zebra turkeyfish or Zebra lionfish, Pterois zebra, is a carnivorous ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives in the Indian and western Pacific oceans. ...

Culinary Uses

Though lionfish venom is dangerous, it is localized around the spines, making the fish rather safe to eat (c.f Fugu, where the toxin is present throughout the internal organs). For other uses, see Fugu (disambiguation). ...

Trivia

• In Star Trek: The Next Generation, Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) keeps a pet lionfish named Livingston.

• The James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me featured a red lionfish in Karl Stromberg's aquarium.

• Despite being native to the Pacific, several hundred lionfish are living off the coast of Long Island, NY. They may threaten native species.[3]

The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) (or Enterprise-D, to distinguish it from prior starships with the same name) is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. ... For other uses, see Casino Royale (2006 film). ... The Spy Who Loved Me is the tenth film in the EON Productions James Bond series and the third to star Roger Moore as British Secret Service agent, Commander James Bond. ... Karl Stromberg is a fictional character in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. ...

Gallery

Lionfish, Melbourne Aquarium Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1067, 382 KB) Lion Fish, Melbourne Aquarium, File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lionfish ...	Lionfish in Andaman sea Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 655 KB) Summary Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Lionfish Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner...	Dwarf Lionfish in Papua New Guinea Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixelsFull resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 3. ...	Red lionfish, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 580 pixelsFull resolution (3182 × 2305 pixel, file size: 1. ...
Turkeyfish, Red Sea, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 871 KB)Hoover Dam File links The following pages link to this file: Hoover Dam Categories: Images with unknown source ...

References

• Gallagher, S. A. 2001. Lionfish and Stonefish. eMedicine Journal, 2 (7).
• http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/jf/feature/index.php

External links

Narrated film about lionfish including closeup sequences of the spines