WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Devil Firefish

Pterois miles

Also known as: Cleartail Lionfish, Common Lionfish, Firefish, Indian Turkeyfish, Indian Winged-fish, Indo-Pacific Common Lionfish, Lionfish, Miles Lionfish, Red Lionfish, Red Miles Lionfish, Soldier Lionfish, Turkeyfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2018
VenomousKeep your distance
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · February 20071 / 37
01

Overview

Found singly or in family groups, over muddy and volcanic bottoms, sometimes hiding in crevices during the day, over coastal reefs. Spines look like feathers and are highly venomous.
Widespread Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Mediterranean, Indian Ocean

Lionfish can be found during the day, hovering above the ground, in caves or crevices, often upside down. At night they are out in the open hunting.
When disturbed they raise their feathery fins as a warning and will usually move off out of harms way, however, if cornered they are able to charge at considerable speed.
Their beautiful feathery pectoral and dorsal fins are highly venomous.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
stripes
Body shape
feathers

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean
  • Exact location · 2
  • Country only · 35
LIVES IN

Found singly or in family groups, over muddy and volcanic bottoms, sometimes hiding in crevices during the day, over coastal reefs.

04

Adult photos 37

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderPerciformes
    5. familyScorpaenidae
    6. genusPterois
    7. speciesPterois miles (Bennett, 1828)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)