Red Lionfish

Description:

This is a captive specimen photographed in a zoo. Red lionfish are clad in white stripes alternated with red, maroon, or brown. Adults can grow as large as 17 inches (43 cm) in length, while juveniles may be shorter than 1 inch (2.5 cm). They can live up to 10 years.

Habitat:

This is a captive specimen that was photographed at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. In the wild, P. volitans is natively found in the Indo-Pacific region. But, it has become a huge invasive problem in the Caribbean Sea and along the East Coast of the United States.

Notes:

It has large, venomous spines that protrude from the body like a mane, giving it the common name of the lionfish. Lionfish venomous dorsal spines are used purely for defense. When threatened, the fish often faces its attacker in an upside-down posture which brings its spines to bear. However, its sting is usually not fatal to humans. If a human is envenomed, that person 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. However, immediate emergency medical treatment is still advised, as some people are more susceptible to the venom than others.