Red lionfish

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Red lionfish
Pterois volitans Manado-e edit.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Pterois
Species:
P. volitans
Binomial name
Pterois volitans

The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish in the family Scorpaenidae, order Scorpaeniformes. It is mainly native to the Indo-Pacific region, but has become an invasive species in the Caribbean Sea, as well as along the East Coast of the United States and East Mediterranean and also found in Brazil at Fernando de Noronha. [2]

Contents

P. volitans and a similar relative, Pterois miles , have both been deemed invasive species. Red lionfish are clad in white stripes alternated with red, maroon or brown stripes. Adults in this species can grow as large as 47 cm (18.5 in) [3] in length, making it one of the largest species of lionfish in the ocean, while juveniles are typically shorter than 1 inch (2.5 cm). The average red lionfish lives around 10 years. [4] As with many species within the family Scorpaenidae, it has large, venomous spines on its dorsal fin (13) as well as other venomous spines on its pelvic fins (2) and anal fins (3). It is these fins together with the other long non-venomous fins which create an appearance similar to a mane, giving it the common name "lionfish". The dorsal spines deter most potential predators. Lionfish reproduce monthly and are able to quickly disperse during their larval stage for expansion of their invasive region. No definitive predators of the lionfish are known, and many organizations are promoting the harvest and consumption of lionfish in efforts to prevent further increases in the already high population densities.

Red lionfish in Indonesia Red lionfish near Gilli Banta Island.JPG
Red lionfish in Indonesia

Taxonomy

The red lionfish was first formally described in 1758 as Gasterosteus volitans by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of his Systema Naturae in which he gave the type locality as Ambon Island in Indonesia. [5] In 1856 the French naturalist Eugène Anselme Sébastien Léon Desmarest designated Scorpaena volitans, which had been named by Bloch in 1787 and which was the same as Linnaeus's 1758 Gasterosteus volitans, as the type species of the genus Pterois which had been originally described by Oken in 1817. [6] A molecular study of this species, the common lionfish, the luna lionfish and Russell's lionfish found that the common lionfishes in the western Indian Ocean formed a lineage, that a second lineage consisted of both the luna lionfish and Russell's lionfish, suggesting these two taxa are conspecific, while the red lionfish formed a third lineage which appeared to have genetic contributions from the other two lineages. This suggests that the red lionfish arose from hybrids between P. miles and P. russelii sensu lato . [7] The specific name volitans means "flying", presumed to be a reference to the large pectotral fins resembling wings. [8]

Distribution

P. volitans is native to the Indo-Pacific region, [9] including the western and central Pacific and off the coast of western Australia. However, the species has been introduced into the Western Atlantic, becoming an invasive species there as well as in the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean [10] .

Red lionfish swimming in a fish tank (video)

Life history and behavior

Reproduction

They are mainly a solitary species and courting is the only time they aggregate, generally one male with several females. [4] Both P. volitans and P. miles are gonochoristic and only show sexual dimorphism during reproduction. Similar courtship behaviors are observed in all Pterois species, including circling, sidewinding, following, and leading. The lionfish are mostly nocturnal, leading to the behaviors typically around nightfall and continuing through the night. After courtship, the female releases two egg masses, fertilized by the male before floating to the surface. The embryos secrete an adhesive mucus allowing them to attach to nearby intertidal rocks and corals before hatching. During one mating session, females can lay up to 30,000 eggs. However, it has been observed that females will lay more eggs in the warmer months. [11]

Predators and prey

In its invasive range, few predators of the lionfish have been documented. Most larger Atlantic and Caribbean fish and sharks that should be able to eat the lionfish have not recognized them as prey, likely due to the novelty of the fish in the invaded areas. Lionfish have, however, been found in the stomachs of Nassau and tiger groupers in the Bahamas, [12] but the former is critically endangered and therefore highly unlikely to provide significant predation. In its native range, two species of moray eels were found preying on lionfish. [13] The Bobbit worm, an ambush predator, has been filmed preying upon lionfish in Indonesia; [14] similar species inhabit the Caribbean.

The lionfish themselves are voracious feeders and have outcompeted and filled the niche of the overfished snapper and grouper. They are known to feed mostly on crustaceans, as well as other invertebrates, and small fishes, which include juveniles of their own species. [15] [16] When hunting, they corner prey using their large fins, then use their quick reflexes to swallow the prey whole. They hunt primarily from late afternoon to dawn. Among their tactics is a "persistent-pursuit strategy" in which they capture fish twice as fast as them in spite of lacking crypsis by exploiting the periodic pauses in swimming of their prey with their uninterrupted slow approach. When they get within 9 cm, they strike using a "rapid expansion of the rostrum and low pressure within the buccal cavity to draw in prey that are immediately in front of the mouth". [17]

High rates of prey consumption, a wide variety of prey, and increasing abundance of the fish lead to concerns the fish may have a very active role in the already declining trend of fish densities. [18] As the fish become more abundant, they are becoming a threat to the fragile ecosystems they have invaded. Between outcompeting similar fish and having a varied diet, the lionfish is drastically changing and disrupting the food chains holding the marine ecosystems together. As these chains are disrupted, declining densities of other fish populations are found, as well as declines in the overall diversity of coral reef areas.

Early life history and dispersal

Although little is known about the larval stage of the lionfish, some traits of the larvae include a large head, a long, triangular snout, long, serrated head spines, a large pelvic spine, and coloration only in the pelvic fins. Larvae hatch 36 hours after fertilization. [4] They are good swimmers and can eat small ciliates just four days after conception. [4] The larval stage is the shortest stage of the lionfish's life, with a duration of about one month. [19]

Venom

Lionfish venomous dorsal spines are used purely for defense.[ disputed – discuss ] They are slow swimmers, so when threatened, the fish turns these spines towards its attacker, even if this means swimming upside down. However, its sting is usually not fatal to humans. Envenomed humans 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. [20] [21] [22] However, immediate emergency medical attention is strongly recommended, as some people are more sensitive to the venom than others.

As an invasive species

Two of the 15 species of Pterois, P. volitans and P. miles, have established themselves as significant invasive species off the East Coast of the United States and in the Caribbean. About 93% of the invasive lionfish population is the red lionfish. [23] The red lionfish was likely first introduced off the Florida coast in the early to mid-1980s, [24] almost certainly from the aquarium trade. [25] Adult lionfish specimens are now found along the East Coast from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Florida, and in Bermuda, the Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean, including the Turks and Caicos, Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, Belize, Honduras, Aruba, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Saint Lucia, St. Martin, and Mexico. [26] It also is in Brazil at Fernando de Noronha. [27]

Related Research Articles

Lionfish may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scorpaenidae</span> Family of fishes

The Scorpaenidae are a family of mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. As their 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.

<i>Aulostomus maculatus</i> Species of fish

Aulostomus maculatus, the West Atlantic trumpetfish, is a long-bodied fish with an upturned mouth. It often swims vertically while trying to blend with vertical coral, such as sea rods, sea pens, and pipe sponges.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System</span> Marine region in Central America

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS), also popularly known as the Great Mayan Reef or Great Maya Reef, is a marine region that stretches over 1,126 kilometres (700 mi) along the coasts of four countries – Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras – from Isla Contoy at the northern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula south to Belize, Guatemala and the Bay Islands of Honduras. It is the second-longest reef system in the world.

<i>Dendrochirus biocellatus</i> Species of fish

Dendrochirus biocellatus, the twospot turkeyfish, twinspot lionfish, twoeyed lionfish or ocellated lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. This species is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region, In the wild, the species eats small fish as well as shrimp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clearfin lionfish</span> Species of fish

The clearfin lionfish, also called the tailbar lionfish, radiata lionfish, fireworks fish or radial firefish, is a carnivorous, ray-finned fish with venomous spines belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. This species lives in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. This is the only lionfish species which has spines without any markings. It can also be recognized by the pair of horizontal white stripes on its caudal peduncle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venomous fish</span> Fish that have the ability to produce toxins

Venomous fish are species of fish which produce strong mixtures of toxins harmful to humans which they deliberately deliver by means of a bite, sting, or stab, resulting in an envenomation. As a contrast, poisonous fish also produce a strong toxin, but they do not bite, sting, or stab to deliver the toxin, instead being poisonous to eat because the human digestive system does not destroy the toxin they contain in their bodies. Venomous fish do not necessarily cause poisoning if they are eaten, as the digestive system often destroys the venom.

<i>Dendrochirus zebra</i> Species of fish

Dendrochirus zebra, known commonly as the zebra turkeyfish or zebra lionfish among other vernacular names, is a species of marine fish in the family Scorpaenidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decoy scorpionfish</span> Species of fish

The decoy scorpionfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is native to the Western Indian and Pacific oceans. A non-migratory species, I. signifer can be observed in close association with coral reefs at depths of from 10 to 70 metres. This species grows to a length of 13 centimetres (5.1 in) TL. This species is the only known member of its genus and can be distinguished by its unique prey-luring behavior.

<i>Pterois miles</i> Species of fish

Pterois miles, the devil firefish or common lionfish, is a species of ray-finned fish native to the western Indo-Pacific region. It is frequently confused with its close relative, the red lionfish. The scientific name is from Greek pteron, meaning "wing", and Latin miles, meaning "soldier".

<i>Pterois antennata</i> Species of fish

Pterois antennata, the spotfin lionfish, banded lionfish, broadbarred lionfish, broadbarred firefish, raggedfinned firefish, raggedfinned scorpionfish or roughscaled lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the tropical Indian and Western Pacific Oceans.

<i>Dendrochirus brachypterus</i> Species of fish

Dendrochirus brachypterus, the dwarf lionfish, short-finned turkeyfish, shortspine rockcod or shortspine scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the Indo-Pacific. It is sometimes found in the aquarium trade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral reef fish</span> Fish which live amongst or in close relation to coral reefs

Coral reef fish are fish which live amongst or in close relation to coral reefs. Coral reefs form complex ecosystems with tremendous biodiversity. Among the myriad inhabitants, the fish stand out as colourful and interesting to watch. Hundreds of species can exist in a small area of a healthy reef, many of them hidden or well camouflaged. Reef fish have developed many ingenious specialisations adapted to survival on the reefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andover lionfish</span> Species of fish

The Andover lionfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.

<i>Pterois sphex</i> Species of fish

Pterois sphex, the Hawaiian turkeyfish or Hawaiian lionfish is a species of ray-finned fish with venomous spines belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the eastern Central Pacific, specifically in marine waters off of Hawaii. It is found in seaward reefs and lagoons at depths from 3 – 122 m.

<i>Pterois russelii</i> Species of fish

Pterois russelii, the largetail turkeyfish, plaintail firefish, plaintail turkeyfish, Russell's firefish, Russell's lionfish, spotless butterfly-cod or the spotless firefish, is a species of ray-finned fish with venomous spines belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean from the eastern part of Africa to the Persian Gulf.

<i>Pterois</i> Genus of venomous fish

Pterois is a genus of venomous marine fish, commonly known as lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific. It is characterized by conspicuous warning coloration with red or black bands, and ostentatious dorsal fins tipped with venomous spines. Pterois radiata, Pterois volitans, and Pterois miles are the most commonly studied species in the genus. Pterois species are popular aquarium fish. P. volitans and P. miles are recent and significant invasive species in the west Atlantic, Caribbean Sea and Mediterranean Sea.

<i>Scorpaenopsis diabolus</i> Species of fish

Scorpaenopsis diabolus, the false stonefish, false scorpionfish or the devil scorpionfish, is a species of venomous marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It has venomous spines and lives in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans as well as in the Red Sea. It is a bottom-dwelling predator that relies on its camouflage to catch passing prey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigtooth cardinalfish</span> Species of fish

The bigtooth cardinalfish or longtooth cardinalfish is a species of marine fish in the family Apogonidae and the only member of its genus. The bigtooth cardinalfish lives in the west-central Atlantic, off southern Florida, United States, and from the Bahamas to Venezuela, and as far south as Suriname. This species also is found in the east-central Atlantic and the Gulf of Guinea, and has been reported as far as Cape Verde. It is a pale orangeish colour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luna lionfish</span> Species of fish

The Luna lionfish, the dragon's beard fish or Japanese lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, which consists of scorpionfishes and lionfishes. It is found in the western Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. ↑ Motomura, H.; Matsuura, K. (2016). "Pterois volitans". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T190468A78940195. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T190468A78940195.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles)". Species Profile. 2019-06-11. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  3. ↑ "World Record Size Lionfish | What is the Largest Lionfish Ever Caught?".
  4. 1 2 3 4 Encyclopedia of Life (EOL). (2011, January 19). Retrieved 4 May 2011 from (http://eol.org)
  5. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Pterois". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  6. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Scorpaenidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  7. ↑ Christie L Wilcox; Hiroyuki Motomura; Mizuki Matsunuma; Brian W Bowen (2018). "Phylogeography of Lionfishes (Pterois) Indicate Taxonomic Over Splitting and Hybrid Origin of the Invasive Pterois volitans". Journal of Heredity. 109 (2): 162–175. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esx056 . PMID   28637254.
  8. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara, eds. (2 October 2021). "Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  9. ↑ Lougher, Tristan (2006). What Fish?: A Buyer's Guide to Marine Fish. Interpet Publishing. p. 197. ISBN   0-7641-3256-3. Where is it from? Eastern Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.
  10. ↑ "Lionfish In The Virgin Islands". Island Roots Boat Charters. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  11. ↑ Leis, Carson-Ewart. The Larvae of Indo-Pacific Coastal Fishes. Australian Museum.
  12. ↑ Maljković, A.; Van Leeuwen, T. E.; Cove, S. N. (September 2008). "Predation on the invasive red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Pisces: Scorpaenidae), by native groupers in the Bahamas". Coral Reefs. 27 (3): 501. Bibcode:2008CorRe..27..501M. doi:10.1007/s00338-008-0372-9. S2CID   29564920. ProQuest   235788303.
  13. ↑ Bos, Arthur R.; Sanad, Ashraf M.; Elsayed, Khamis (June 2017). "Gymnothorax spp. (Muraenidae) as natural predators of the lionfish Pterois miles in its native biogeographical range". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 100 (6): 745–748. doi:10.1007/s10641-017-0600-7. S2CID   25045547.
  14. ↑ "Who Named the Bobbit Worm (Eunice sp.)? And WHAT species is it.. truly??". 2014-08-13.
  15. ↑ "Pterois volitans (Red Lionfish)" (PDF). University of the West Indies. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Pterois volitans (Red firefish)". Animal Diversity Web .
  17. ↑ Peterson, Ashley N.; McHenry, Matthew J. (2022-08-03). "The persistent-predation strategy of the red lionfish (Pterois volitans)". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 289 (1980). The Royal Society. doi:10.1098/rspb.2022.1085. ISSN   0962-8452. PMC   9346346 .
  18. ↑ Côté, Im; Maljkovic, A (8 April 2010). "Predation rates of Indo-Pacific lionfish on Bahamian coral reefs". Marine Ecology Progress Series. 404: 219–225. Bibcode:2010MEPS..404..219C. doi: 10.3354/meps08458 . JSTOR   24873867.
  19. ↑ Leis, Jeffrey Martin; Carson-Ewart, Brooke M., eds. (2000). "Scorpaeniformes". The Larvae of Indo-Pacific Coastal Fishes: An Identification Guide to Marine Fish Larvae. BRILL. pp. 217–225. ISBN   978-90-04-11577-4.
  20. ↑ Aldred B, Erickson T, Lipscomb J (November 1996). "Lionfish envenomations in an urban wilderness". Wilderness Environ Med. 7 (4): 291–6. doi: 10.1580/1080-6032(1996)007[0291:LEIAUW]2.3.CO;2 . PMID   11990126.
  21. ↑ Taylor, G. (2000). "Toxic fish spine injury: Lessons from 11 years experience". South Pacific Underwater Medicine Society Journal . 30 (1). ISSN   0813-1988. OCLC   16986801. Archived from the original on June 29, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-13.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  22. ↑ Vetrano SJ, Lebowitz JB, Marcus S (November 2002). "Lionfish envenomation". J Emerg Med. 23 (4): 379–82. doi:10.1016/s0736-4679(02)00572-3. PMID   12480019.
  23. ↑ Hamner, R. M.; Freshwater, D. W.; Whitfield, P. E. (October 2007). "Mitochondrial cytochrome b analysis reveals two invasive lionfish species with strong founder effects in the western Atlantic". Journal of Fish Biology. 71 (sb): 214–222. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2007.01575.x.
  24. ↑ Whitfield, Paula; Gardner, Todd; Vives, Stephen P.; Gilligan, Matthew R.; Courtney, Walter R.; Ray, Carleton; Hare, Jonathan A. (2003). "The Introduction and Dispersal of the Indo-Pacific Lionfish (Pterois volitans) Along the Atlantic Coast of North America". Diving for Science 2003: Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 22nd Annual Scientific Diving Symposium. pp. 84–. OCLC   647601034.
  25. ↑ Is the Aquarium Trade to Blame?
  26. ↑ Whitfield, Paula E.; Hare, Jonathan A.; David, Andrew W.; Harter, Stacey L.; Muñoz, Roldan C.; Addison, Christine M. (28 December 2006). "Abundance estimates of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans/miles complex in the Western North Atlantic". Biological Invasions. 9 (1): 53–64. doi:10.1007/s10530-006-9005-9. S2CID   41535139.
  27. ↑ Marinho, Ana Clara (28 August 2021). "Quarto peixe invasor venenoso é capturado em Fernando de Noronha em menos de um mês" [Fourth invasive poisonous fish is caught in Fernando de Noronha in less than a month]. Grupo Globo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
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