Lionfish

Lionfish are beautiful striped fish with fan-like fins and venomous spines. They originally come from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Lionfish have spread to the Atlantic Ocean where they do not belong. They are now considered an invasive species there.

Beautiful but Dangerous

Lionfish have red, white, and brown stripes and long, flowing fins. Their beauty hides a danger. They have 18 venomous spines along their back and sides. A sting from a lionfish is very painful to humans but usually not deadly.

Invasive Species

Lionfish were released into the Atlantic Ocean, probably from home aquariums. With no natural predators there, their numbers have exploded. They eat huge amounts of small reef fish and can harm coral reef ecosystems. People are encouraged to catch and eat lionfish to help control their numbers.

Fun Facts

• A single female lionfish can release up to 2 million eggs per year.
• Lionfish can eat prey more than half their own body size.
• Lionfish have been found as deep as 1,000 feet below the ocean surface.

Did You Know?

Lionfish are actually delicious to eat! Restaurants in Florida and the Caribbean serve lionfish to help reduce their numbers and protect coral reefs.