WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Red Sea Lionfish

Pteropterus cinctus

Also known as: Devilfish, Firefish, Lionfish, Radial Firefish, Red Sea Clearfin Lionfish, Turkeyfish, Zebrafish, Pterois cincta

Adult
@Descent · Dreams Beach, Saudi Arabia · May 20191 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, in crevices and under ledges during the day, foraging for food at night over surge zones, of rocky reefs, rock walls, lagoons, and seaward reefs.
They feed nocturnally on small crustaceans.
Western Indian Ocean - Red Sea

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

Pattern
stripes
Body shape
spikes
Fins & Tail
filament fins

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, in crevices and under ledges during the day, foraging for food at night over surge zones, of rocky reefs, rock walls, lagoons, and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderPerciformes
    5. familyScorpaenidae
    6. genusPteropterus
    7. speciesPteropterus cinctus (Rüppell, 1838)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Rockfishes (Scorpaenidae)