Pterois volitans
(lionfish)

Pictures

Picture	Title	Caption	Copyright
Title Adult Caption Pterois volitans (red or common lionfish); adult. Tasik Ria, Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia. October, 2006. Copyright ©Jens Petersen - CC BY 2.5	Adult	Pterois volitans (red or common lionfish); adult. Tasik Ria, Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia. October, 2006.	©Jens Petersen - CC BY 2.5
Title Adults Caption Pterois volitans (red or common lionfish); adults, captive specimens. USA. Copyright ©Joseph LaForest/University of Georgia/Bugwood.org - CC BY-NC 3.0 US	Adults	Pterois volitans (red or common lionfish); adults, captive specimens. USA.	©Joseph LaForest/University of Georgia/Bugwood.org - CC BY-NC 3.0 US

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)

Preferred Common Name

• lionfish

Other Scientific Names

• Gasterosteus volitans Linnaeus
• Pterois cristatus Swainson, 1839
• Pterois geniserra Cuvier, 1829
• Pterois lunulata Temminck & Schlegel, 1843
• Pterois volitans castus Whitley, 1951
• Pterois zebra Quoy & Gaimard, 1825

International Common Names

• English: butterfly cod; common lionfish; fire fish; ornate butterfly-cod; red fire fish; red lionfish; scorpion-cod; turkeyfish; zebra fish
• French: laffe vollant; poisson scorpion; poisson-dindon; poissoolant volant
• Arabic: deek al bahar; dijajah

Local Common Names

• Indonesia: peacock lionfish
• Netherlands: koraalduivel

Summary of Invasiveness

P. volitansis known as a venomous coral reef fish from the Indian and western Pacific oceans. It is the first Indo-Pacific marine fish to become established in Atlantic waters. It was likely first introduced off the Florida coast in the early to mid-1990s. For the past few years members of this species have been collected, photographed and observed from southern Florida to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and juvenile lionfish have been collected from Long Island, New York and Bermuda. The species is also spreading rapidly through the Caribbean. The large scale distribution of this invasive species over such a short time period, along with the presence of juveniles, suggests that lionfish are reproducing (Ruiz-Caruz et al., 2006). Along the North Carolina coast both the number and spatial distribution of lionfish have increased. In August 2000, there were three lionfish reported in three locations. By October 2002, 49 lionfish were reported in 15 different locations. Dispersal of lionfish in 2002 appears to have been both inshore and offshore of the lionfish locations in 2001. Lionfish have also been sighted in waters deeper than originally anticipated (Whitfield et al., 2006). The initial introduction was thought to have been through aquarium releases off the Florida coast during Hurricane Andrew, but this is now thought unlikely, with multiple aquarium releases in Florida considered a more likely cause. It is unknown what effects on the ecosystem this marine invasive fish will have along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Whitfield et al. (2002) reported that there should be a cause for concern as they are predators and appear to be permanent residents. ISSG (2010) added that this is the first time aquarium releases have resulted in the successful establishment of non-native marine fish.

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Metazoa
•         Phylum: Chordata
•             Subphylum: Vertebrata
•                 Class: Actinopterygii
•                     Order: Scorpaeniformes
•                         Suborder: Scorpaenoidei
•                             Family: Scorpaenidae
•                                 Genus: Pterois
•                                     Species: Pterois volitans

Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Schultz (1986) reported that few synonyms to Pterois volitans exist and only Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828) has received serious consideration as a separate species. He examined specimens throughout the Indo-Pacific and concluded that two allopatric species can be recognized as P. miles in the Indian Ocean and as P. volitans in the western and south-central Pacific and Western Australia.

More recently Schofield et al. (2010) agreed with Schultz but added that the range extends to Sumatra where the two species co-occur. The gap of more than two decades between the two studies could lead us to believe that over the years the species has extended its range by natural dispersal. The number of soft rays on the fins is normally used to distinguish between species belonging to the same genera. However, reports regarding the number of the soft rays of P. miles do not agree (see descriptions for this species given by Schofield et al. (2010) and Froese and Pauly (2010)).

Recent genetic work has revealed that the Atlantic population of lionfish is comprised primarily of P. volitans with a small number of P. miles (Hamner et al., 2007).

Description

The lionfish is considered one of the most splendid looking species in the aquarium trade. It has a beautifully banded head and body with reddish, golden brown or white bands stretching across a yellow background. The dorsal and anal fins possess dark rows of spots on a clear background. However the colour may vary according to habitat as coastal species generally appear darker, sometimes almost black in estuaries (Froese and Pauly, 2010). Kuiter and Tonozuka (2001) described lionfish as possessing tentacles above their eyes.

Fishelson (1975) reported that competing males use their spines and fins in agonistic visual displays.

P. volitans have 13 poisonous dorsal spines; 9-11 dorsal soft rays; and 14 long, feather-like pectoral rays. The anal fin has 3 spines and 6-7 rays. Scales are cycloid type (Myers, 1999; Froese and Pauly, 2010). The adults of this species are normally solitary but aggregate for courtship and mating when they become aggressive towards same species (intruders) and other fish. P. volitans can grow to a maximum length of 38 cm. However Masterson (2007) claimed that a specimen collected on the U.S. east coast, caught via hook and line off North Carolina in 2004, was over 43 cm long and weighed approximately 1.1 kg. Lionfish have a life span of 10-15 years (Froese and Pauly, 2010). P. volitans live in small groups as juveniles and while mating (Robins, 2010).

Dentition

The teeth of the red lionfish are numerous, but very small. They occur on the upper and lower jaws in densely packed bilateral clusters and in a small patch on the anterior roof of the mouth. Functionally, these teeth appear to be limited to grasping prey captured by the extraordinarily quick predatory strike of this species (Robins, 2010).

Distribution

The native distribution of the red lionfish is restricted to reef habitats of the Indo-Pacific. This distribution encompasses an enormous area extending from Western Australia and Malaysia east to French Polynesia and the Pitcairn Islands, north to southern Japan and southern Korea and south to Lord Howe Island off the east coast of Australia and the Kermadec Islands of New Zealand. In between, the species is found throughout Micronesia (Randall et al., 1997).

Froese and Pauly (2010) and Robins (2010) reported that P. volitans are replaced by the very similar P. miles from the Red Sea to Sumatra. Robins (2010) even claimed that a published record of P. volitans from Inhaca Island, Mozambique, is presumably an error and more likely represents the more westerly P. miles. However scientists working on fish parasites of the northern Red Sea claimed that they collected their specimens of P. volitans from Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt (Hassanine, 2006) and from Eilat Gulf, Israel (Paperna, 1972). Since both of these study sites are in the area of the north Red Sea it possible that both references relied on same source for identification despite a time span of more than 30 years between the two studies. Kimball et al. (2004) studying the thermal tolerance of red lionfish on the east coast of the USA used the term P. volitans/ miles complex to describe lionfish they studied (apparently to avoid confusion).Hare and Whitfield (2003) citing the work Kochzius et al. (2003) which confirmed genetic differences between P. miles and P. volitans, had argued that Kochzius et al's work was inconclusive regarding the existence of two species or two populations of one species. Hence they too decided to use the term P. volitans/ miles perhaps to avoid confusion.

The introduced range includes much of the Caribbean and the southern part of the east coast of the USA. Up to date information can be found on the map published by the United States Geological Survey.

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

History of Introduction and Spread

P. volitans is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish in many parts of the world (Froese and Pauly, 2010). No other country apart from the USA and countries of the Caribbean sea considers it as an invasive species. Even in the USA it is one of the 10 most valuable marine fish imported to the country. Ruiz Carus et al. (2006) reported that 7562 lionfish were imported to Tampa, Florida within 6 months in 2003 by the local aquarium industry.

Schofield (2009) indicated that despite many past records of lionfish sightings, the first confirmed record of lionfish occurrence in the USA was a specimen taken by a lobster fisherman off Dania, Florida in October 1985. The most frequently documented story about the release of lionfish in the eastern United States is the that of Courtenay (1995) who reported that the escape took place in Florida on August 24, 1992 when six lionfish were freed when Hurricane Andrew destroyed a large marine aquarium on a waterfront porch at the edge of Biscayne Bay and that these lionfish were seen alive nearby several days later. However, Courtenay and others now consider this unlikley to be the cause of the current invasion, on the grounds of the above-mentioned earlier report and of genetic studies indicating a larger founder population. Multiple aquarium releases are now considered to be a more likely cause (Morell, 2010; Betancur-R et al., 2011)

By 1994 sporadic observations by divers had been reported of lionfish off Palm Beach and Boca Raton in Florida. More annotated observations (videos, photos and specimens) have been reported since then. However Hare and Whitfield (2003) were not sure if the numbers of the lionfish was increasing or the increase in the public awareness had made people report their sightings. Regardless of the reason most of these observations demonstrate that lionfish adults are distributed along the southeast United States continental shelf from south Florida to Cape Hatteras (Whitfield et al., 2006).

The lionfish have gradually moved to invade the Caribbean and have been spotted along the eastern seaboard of the USA, reaching as far north as Rhode Island and as far south as Venezuela. They are now spreading rapidly (Betancur-R et al, 2011). Increasing frequent sightings of lionfish at the south-eastern end of Exuma sound (Bahamas) have been documented by a laboratory team working in the area (Hixon et al., 2009). Their findings have provided an unprecedented opportunity to study the ecological interactions of lionfish with Caribbean coral reef fish communities from the very beginning of the invasion. In the summer of 2005, they found their first lionfish near Lee Stocking Island (LSI). They believe that between the autumn of 2006 and summer of 2007, the lionfish population in the Bahamas increased substantially. During the summer of 2007, over 100 lionfish were spotted around LSI signifying a rapid expansion within the Bahamas (Hixon et al., 2009).

Introductions

Risk of Introduction

Since the lionfish is listed as invasive species only in the USA and the Caribbean most of the work on their invasiveness has been done in that area. Morris (2009) argued that as a venomous scorpionfish, lionfish are considered invasive by definition because of their probable impacts to native reef fish communities (Albins and Hixon, 2008; Morris and Atkins, 2009) and to human health (Vetrano et al., 2002).

Hixon et al. (2009) reported that lionfish have the potential to drastically reduce the abundance of coral reef fishes and leave behind a devastated ecosystem. They suggested that with few known natural predators, the lionfish poses a major threat to coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean region by decreasing survival of a wide range of native reef animals via both predation and competition. While native groupers may prey on lionfish, they have been overfished and therefore unlikely to significantly reduce the effects of invasive lionfish on coral reef communities. Albins and Hixon (2008) conducted a controlled field experiment using a matrix of translocated coral and artificial patch reefs to examine the short-term effects of lionfish on the recruitment of native reef fishes in the Bahamas. They found that lionfish caused significant reductions in the recruitment of native fishes by an average of 79% over the 5 week duration of the experiment. They propose that this strong effect on a key life stage of coral-reef fish suggests that invasive lionfish are already having substantial negative impacts on Atlantic coral reefs. Hixon et al. (2009) on one occasion observed a lionfish consuming 20 small wrasses during a 30 minute period. They also observed that it was not unusual to see lionfish consuming prey up to two-thirds of its own length. Morris et al. (2008) claimed that the lionfish invasion in the northwestern Atlantic and the Caribbean represents one of the most rapid marine finfish invasions in history. Green and Cote (2008) estimated that the number of lionfish had increased 17 times between 2004 and 2008 in North Carolina.

Habitat

In general, marine fish that do not have the ability to survive in brackish or fresh water at a certain stage of their lifecycle seldom become invasive (A Gittenberger, Gimaris, The Netherlands, personal communication, 2010).

Habitat List

Biology and Ecology

Reproduction

P. volitans are gonochoristic, i.e. males and females exhibit sexual dimorphism only during reproduction. The male becomes darker and their stripes are much less visible, and any female whose eggs are ripe takes on a much paler hue with many areas of the body becoming silvery white. Lionfish samples collected off North Carolina and in the Bahamas suggest that lionfish are reproducing during all seasons of the year (Morris, 2009).

P. volitans perform external fertilization of eggs and a suite of complex courtship and mating behaviours (Ruiz-Carus et al., 2006). The adults are generally solitary outside of the reproductive season, but during courtship, males will aggregate with multiple females to form groups of three to eight fish.

The courtship has been described by divers and aquarists as a dance that entails the couple diving down to the seafloor, several times, and then coming face-to-face, they slowly rise while circling, as if doing a waltz. Just before reaching the surface, the female will expel a pair of mucus-encapsulated clusters, containing 2000-15000 eggs which float to the surface. Once the mucus tube reaches the surface, the male will release his sperm into the egg tube so fertilization can take place. After about 15 minutes these tubes fill up with seawater and become oval balls 2 to 5 cm in diameter. Within these mucosal balls lie one to two layers of individual eggs. After spawning the fish part and go their separate ways (Fishelson, 1975).

Egg development

Twelve hours after fertilization the embryo begins to form. Only 18 hours after fertilization, the head and eyes become moderately developed. Eventually, invading microbes deteriorate the mucus walls and 36 hours after fertilization, the larvae hatch. Four days after fertilization, the larvae are already good swimmers and are able to begin feeding on small ciliates (Fishelson, 1975; Wood, 2001). The planktonic larval stage lasts between 25 to 40 days before they settle out of the water column at a size of 10-12 mm in length (Morris, 2009; Robins, 2010).

Judging on the size, morphology and larval life of other species belong to Pterois, lionfish larvae have a large head, a relatively long and triangular snout, long and serrated head spines, a robust pelvic spine, and pigment confined to the pectoral fins. The larvae size has been estimated to be about 1.5 mm (Leis and Rennis, 2000).

Nutrition

Morris and Akins (2009) studying the ecology of P. volitans in the Bahamian archipelago found that the adults prey mainly upon fish (78%) and crustaceans (14%). They found that twenty-one families and 41 species of fish were represented in the diet of lionfish; the top 10 families of dietary importance were Gobiidae, Labridae, Grammatidae, Apogonidae, Pomacentridae, Serranidae, Blenniidae, Atherinidae, Mullidae, and Monacanthidae. They reported that younger lionfish mainly feed on crustaceans but increase their intake of fish as they grew older. Sano et al. (1984) also reported that the food of lionfish in Ryukyu Island consists of 95% fish and 5% crustaceans and other benthic invertebrates such as amphipods and isopods. Whitney (2003) reported lionfish in Columbia feed mostly on crustaceans (as well as other invertebrates).

P. volitans are very voracious feeders as they consume an average of 8.2 times their body weight per year and as juveniles they consume 5.5-13.5 g per day and 14.6 g a day as adults (Wood, 2001).

Lionfish hunt small fishes, shrimps, and crabs at night, using their widespread pectoral fins trapping prey into a corner, stunning it and then swallowing it. The lionfish glides along the substrate (rocks or sand) and vibrates the rays on its fins in order move the prey out of hiding. They are very swift in catching and swallowing their victims (Sano et al., 1984; Froese and Pauly, 2010).

Most literature, by hobbyists and scientists, state that lionfish are nocturnal and feed at night especially the first hours of the night when the coral community becomes active with night feeders coming out of their hiding places (Sano et al., 1984; Froese and Pauly, 2010). Conversely, Morris and Akins (2009) reported that lionfish were found to be diurnal feeders with the highest predation occurring in the morning (08:00–11:00). This contradiction could be as a result to availability of the food in a particular habitat. Robins (2010) suggested that despite lionfish being known to be nocturnal they have been observed to feed during the day and studies of captive specimens imply that lionfish that have taken up refuge may simply be those individuals that have recently fed and are full.

Fishelson (1997) found that under experimental conditions, the lionfish are inactive and only come out of their hiding places to feed on as many fish as possible when fish are plentiful, fasting when food is scarce. When food is plentiful, P. volitans becomes full and may not eat for at least 24 hours.

Lionfish invest most of their energy in growing to a large body size early in life. This tactic allows them to be more likely to avoid attack by predators and increase their chances of mating successfully (Wood, 2001).

Cannibalism

Evidence of cannibalism in lionfish has been either anecdotal or found in experimental work. NOAA’s (2004) Coral Reef News reviewed work suggesting that there was some evidence of cannibalism amongst lionfish as remains of two lionfish were found in the stomach of other lionfish sharing the same tank. A team from Kean University experimenting on lionfish demonstrated that they showed signs of cannibalism (Lane et al., undated). Morris (2009) observed one instance of cannibalism of lionfish in their experimental tank. However he quoted the work of Smith and Reay (1991) who suggested that cannibalism in teleost fishes while in captivity is common and may not reflect a natural event. Morris (2009) also mentioned that diet analyses of >1,000 adult lionfish from the Atlantic have provided no evidence of cannibalism.

Lionfish envenomation

Gallagher (2001) described Pterois spp.as the least venomous of the Scorpaenidae. Lionfish elongated dorsal spines, pelvic spines and anal spines all have a pair of venom glands at each of their bases and a loose sheath covers each spine. The sheath is pushed down the spine during envenomation, causing compression of the venom glands. Venom then travels along a groove in the spine into the wound. However, the fan-like array of pectoral fins, which may appear superficially the same as the dorsal fins in structure, are not equipped with these glands.

Lionfish use their venomous fins to sting as a defensive response, typically to being cornered or harassed in some way, with the dorsal spines being the predominant weapon. In the wild, they are not aggressive towards people and will almost always keep their distance when given the opportunity, hence pose a relatively low risk. Although not deadly, the lionfish’s sting is extremely painful and causes swelling, redness, bleeding, nausea, numbness, joint pain, anxiety, headache, disorientation, dizziness, nausea, paralysis, and convulsions (Ruiz-Carus et al., 2006; Fatherree, 2008).

Any broken spines should be removed, if possible, and the affected area soaked in non-scalding hot water (100-110°F or 38-43°C.) for 15-20 minutes. Lionfish venom contains proteins that are denatured by heat, thus preventing them from spreading in the bloodstream (Gallagher, 2001).

Latitude/Altitude Ranges

Water Tolerances

Natural enemies

Notes on Natural Enemies

Predators

Lionfish have few known natural predators but groupers have been found with lionfish remains in their stomachs. However, studies of the closely related P. miles may provide us with some indication of the natural history of P. volitans. In the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, the piscivorous cornetfish, Fistularia commersoni, appears to be a predator of P. miles. Judging by the presence of a specimen of P. miles in the stomach of a large F. commersoni, and its particular orientation therein, it was concluded that cornetfish in the Red Sea may utilize their ambush tactics to seize lionfish safely from the rear, consuming them tail first. As cornetfishes are widespread, effective piscivore species sympatric with P. volitans, they may also predate upon them (Fishelson, 1975).

Parasites

Morris (2009) reported that knowledge of the parasites infecting native and non-native lionfish is scant. No comprehensive survey of protozoan or metazoan parasites of either host (P. miles or P. volitans) has been published.

However some isolated studies, mainly in the Red Sea area, recorded the presence of trematode parasites on wild-caught specimens. Hamacreadium pteroisi and Haliotremapteroisi were found on lionfish specimens collected from two areas of the North Sea; Ghardaga in Egypt (Nagaty and Abdelaal, 1962) and southwest of the Elite Gulf in Israel (Paperna, 1972).

The intestinal trematode Proneohelicometra aegyptensis (Opecoelidae) was also isolated from specimens of P. volitans from Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in the Red Sea (Hassanine, 2006).

Copepods and leeches were reported from specimens from Japan (Paperna, 1976; Dojiri and Ho, 1988). A leech (Myzobdella lugubris) (Hirudinea, Piscicolidae) measuring 22 mm was found attached to the middle portion of the tongue of a lionfish caught on the Florida coast (Ruiz-Carus et al., 2006).

Few studies have been carried out on endoparasites; however, a new myxosporean species, Sphaeromyxa zaharoni was found in a lionfish gall bladder from the Red Sea (Diamant et al., 2004).

Recent observations of lionfish collected off North Carolina and in the Bahamas have found a low prevalence of endo- and ectoparasites when compared to parasites of native reef fishes (Morris, 2009).

Means of Movement and Dispersal

NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) (2010) suggested the following suspected or possible sources of lionfish spread:

The northward transport of lionfish eggs and larvae by the Gulf Stream has most likely enhanced dispersal of lionfish along the Atlantic coast which most likely explains the lionfish sightings in New York and New England. Lionfish adapt to many different habitats. In the Bahamas, they have been found at depths ranging from about four feet (1.2 m) to more than 450 feet (137 m) on reef walls, patch reefs, rocky areas, hard bottoms with ledges and crevices, mangrove creeks, isolated coral heads, blue holes, ship wrecks, man-made structures, and various collections of debris. They have been described as “habitat generalists,” as they only require a habitat that provides shade and a surface against which to trap their prey. Lionfish in Sri Lanka are more likely to be found on rocky reefs rather than coral formations, while juveniles are common in estuaries (NOAA, 2010).

Pathway Causes

Pathway Vectors

Impact Summary

Economic Impact

P. volitans are the most commonly displayed and sold member of the family Scorpaenidae. Areas where the lionfish is found count among the best attractions of diving in a tropical coral reef. Also, in the native range lionfish are popular table fish as well as aquarium trade species (Froese and Pauly, 2010).

However as tourism is an important industry and accounts for half the employment in the Bahamas, the local people worry that if the lionfish continue to devour colourful reef fish, divers will go elsewhere (Dornfeld, 2009).

In the western Atlantic, lionfish feed on juvenile of grouper and parrotfish which are important fish for human consumption (Gupta, 2009).

Environmental Impact

Ruiz-Carus et al. (2006) reported that lionfish may, directly and indirectly, cause harm to coral reef ecosystems. As aggressive ambush predators with few predators of their own in their introduced range, lionfish can quickly and alarmingly reduce local native reef fish populations to the point where native piscivores (fish predators) cannot compete for these prey animals. This in-turn can cause a reduction in the growth and survival of the native predators.

Stomach content analyses of lionfish reveal a wide diversity in prey species and size classes. Lionfish eat nearly anything that will fit into their mouths. Their diet consists of numerous shrimp, crabs, and other crustaceans, including juveniles of the commercially important spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) (CoRIS, 2009). Lionfish are also responsible for great reductions in fish numbers on reefs where they become established. They prey on herbivorous fishes that consume macro-algae and help protect corals from algal overgrowth. In addition to the species listed in the Threatened Species table, lionfish also compete for food with Serranids in the Bahaman archipelago (Morris and Akins, 2009). Scientists have concluded that lionfish populations will continue to grow and cannot be extirpated using conventional methods. Due to their fecundity, rapid and wide-spread distribution, adaptability to a variety of shallow and deep habitats, and behaviour, scientists believe the lionfish invasion could become the most disastrous in history, devastating coral reef ecosystems throughout the Americas. As lionfish colonize more territory in the Caribbean, they may have a devastating effect on coral reefs already stressed by climate change, pollution, disease, overfishing, sedimentation, and other stressors (CoRIS, 2009).

Threatened Species

Social Impact

Lionfish are a favourite fish species for scuba divers wishing to take photographs as they are a highly attractive species that sits relatively still (A Gittenberger, Gimaris, The Netherlands, personal communication, 2010). However, they have sharp and venomous spines on their fins, and although their venom is not lethal, swimmers, snorkellers, divers, and fishermen are at risk from their painful sting. The most common sting symptoms are pain, swelling and sweating. However, at least in one case, the victim experienced cardiovascular collapse (Saunders and Lifton, 1960). The most recommended treatment for lionfish sting it to immerse the affected area into hot water of 45°C for 10-30 minutes; however, Vetrano et al. (2002) reported a case when lionfish envenomation failed to respond to warm water immersion.

Risk and Impact Factors

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
• Capable of securing and ingesting a wide range of food
• Long lived
• Fast growing
• Has high reproductive potential

• Altered trophic level
• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Negatively impacts human health
• Negatively impacts aquaculture/fisheries
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Causes allergic responses
• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition
• Poisoning
• Predation
• Rapid growth

• Highly likely to be transported internationally accidentally
• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
• Difficult to identify/detect in the field
• Difficult/costly to control

Uses List

General

• Pet/aquarium trade

Prevention and Control

Although lionfish in their native range are considered one of the most valuable species as an aquarium fish and as food fish, lionfish in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean and the southwestern Caribbean Sea are recognized as a major threat to their ecosystem. The authorities and the public in those countries are concerned that this species is causing dramatic effects on people’s safety, biodiversity and habitat composition (Gonzalez, 2009).

However, ISSG (2010) reported that no specific preventative or control activities information has been recorded. Nevertheless countries, especially the USA and the Caribbean islands where lionfish has an established population or their establishment is imminent are putting together mitigating measures to deal with it as a potential threat. They are taking the following measures in order to control the problem as eradication is not likely (Whitfield, 2002; Morris, 2009).

1. Good planning

2. Involving people and community

3. Fisheries development

4. Undertake more research and use of new technology

5. Cooperation and liaison

References

Adams J, 2009. Lionfish hunters assure us that lionfish taste just like chicken. Reefbuilders Newsletter. unpaginated. http://reefbuilders.com/2009/03/15/lionfish-hunters-assure-lionfish-tastes-chicken/

Albins MA; Hixon MA, 2008. Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans reduce recruitment of atlantic coral-reef fishes. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser, 367:233-238.

Betancur-R R; Hines A; Acero-P A; Ortí G; Wilbur AE; Freshwater DW, 2011. Reconstructing the lionfish invasion: insights into Greater Caribbean biogeography. Journal of Biogeography, 38(7):1281-1293. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1365-2699

Chevalier PO; Gutierrez E; Ibarzabal D; Romero S; Isla V; Calderin J; Hernendez E, 2008. First record of Pterois volitans (Pisces: Scorpaenidae) for Cuban waters. Solenodon, 7:37-40.

Claydon JAB; Calosso MC, 2008. A strategy to reduce the impact of the invasive red lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) in the Turks and Caicos Islands. A strategy to reduce the impact of the invasive red lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) in the Turks and Caicos Islands. South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands: School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, 11 pp. [Technical report.]

CoRIS, 2009. The Indopacific lionfish invasion of the U.S. south Atlantic sea coast and Caribbean Sea. CoRIS: NOAA's Coral Reef Information System. unpaginated. http://coris.noaa.gov/exchanges/lionfish/

Courtenay WR, 1995. Marine fish introductions in southeastern Florida. American Fisheries Society, introduced fish section Newsletter, 4:2-3.

Diamant A; Whipps CM; Kent ML, 2004. A new species of Sphaeromyxa (Myxosporea: Sphaeromyxina: Sphaeromyxidae) in devil firefish, Pterois miles (Scorpaenidae), from the Northern Red Sea: morphology, ultrastructure, and phylogeny. Journal of Parasitology, 90:1434.

Dojiri M; Ho JS, 1988. Two species of Acanthochondria Copepoda Poecilostomatoida parasitic on fishes of Japan. Report of the Sado Marine Biological Station, Niigata University, 18:47-56.

Dornfeld A, 2009. Spreading lionfish invasion threaten Bahamas. Spreading lionfish invasion threaten Bahamas. National Public Radio (NPR), unpaginated. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111695369

Fatherree JW, 2008. Lionfish their envenomation and the aquaculturist. Reefkeeping, 8(3):unpaginated. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/jf/feature/index.php

Fishelson L, 1975. Ethology and reproduction of pteroid fishes found in the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea), especially Dendrochirus brachypterus (Cuvier), (Pteroidae, Teleostei). Publ. Stat. Zool. Napoli, 39:635-656.

Fishelson L, 1997. Experiments and observations on food consumption, growth and starvation in Dendrochirus brachypterus and Pterois volitans (Pteroinae, Scorpaenidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes, 50(4):391-403.

Freshwater DW; Hines A; Parham S; Wilbur A; Sabaoun M; Woodhead J; Akins L; Purdy B; Whitfield PE; Paris CB, 2009. Mitochondrial control region sequence analyses indicate dispersal from the US East Coast as the source of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans in the Bahamas. Marine Biology, 156:1213-122.

Froese R; Pauly D, 2010. FishBase. http://www.fishbase.org

Gallagher SA, 2001. Lionfish and stonefish. eMedicine Journal, 2(7):unpaginated. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/770764-overview

Gonzalez J; GrijalbaBendeck M; Acero PA; Betancur RR, 2009. The invasive red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus 1758), in the southwestern Caribbean Sea. Aquatic Invasions, 4(3):507-510.

Green SJ; Côté IM, 2009. Record densities of Indo-Pacific lionfish on Bahamian coral reefs. Coral Reefs, 28:107.

Guerrero KA; Luis Franco AL, 2008. First record for the Indo-Pacific red lionfish Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758) for the Dominican Republic. Aquatic Invasions, 3(2):267-268.

Gupta A, 2009. Invasion of the lionfish. Science and Nature, Smithsonian. unpaginated. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Invasion-of-the-Lionfish.html?c=y&page=1

Hamner RM; Freshwater DW; Whitfield PE, 2007. Mitochondiral cytochrome b analysis reveals two invasive species with strong founder effects in the western Atlantic. Journal of Fish Biology, 71(Sup B):214-222.

Hare JA; Whitfield PE, 2003. An integrated assessment of the introduction of lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) to the Western Atlantic Ocean. An integrated assessment of the introduction of lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) to the Western Atlantic Ocean. unpaginated. [NOAA Tech Memo NOS NCCOS 2.]

Hassanine RME, 2006. Trematodes from Red Sea fishes: Proneohelicometra aegyptensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (Opecoelidae Ozaki, 1925) and Neohypocreadium gibsoni sp. nov. (Lepocreadiidae Odhner, 1905). Poland Acta Parasitologica, 51(4):249-254.

Hixon M; Albins M; Redinger T, 2009. Lionfish invasion: super predator threatens Caribbean coral reefs. Lionfish invasion: super predator threatens Caribbean coral reefs., USA: NOAA Research, unpaginated. http://www.oar.noaa.gov/spotlite/archive/2009/articles/lionfish_invasion.html

ISSG, 2010. Global Invasive Species Database (GISD). Invasive Species Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. http://www.issg.org/database

Kapoor D; Dayal R; Ponniah AG, 2002. Fish biodiversity of India. Lucknow, India: National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, 775 pp.

Kimball ME; Miller JM; Whitfield PE; Hare JA, 2004. Thermal tolerance and potential distribution of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) on the east coast of the United States. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 283:269-278.

Kochzius M; Soller R; Khalaf MA; Blohm D, 2003. Molecular phylogeny of the lionfish genera Dendrochirus and Pterois (Scorpaenidae, Pteroinae) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 28:396-403.

Kuiter RH; Tonozuka T, 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1 eels-snappers, Muraenidae-Lutjanidae., Australia: Zoonetics, 302 pp.

Kumaraguru Vasagam KP; Rajkumar M, 2004. Occurrence of reef associated fishes in Vellar estuary, southeast coast of India. Seshaiyana, 12(2):16.

Lane A; Aguiar R; Jastrzembski P; D'Alessio E; Dirnfield L, undated. Observation of lionfish on food source and habitat. Observation of lionfish on food source and habitat. unpaginated. [A student report for department of Geology and Meteorology, Kean University, New Jersey, USA.] http://hurri.kean.edu/dept/Research/lionfish.pdf

Leis JM; Rennis DS, 2000. Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes, Stonefishes). In: Fauna Malesiana Handbooks. The larvae of Indo-Pacific coastal fishes. An identification guide to marine fish larvae [ed. by Leis, J. M.\Carson-Ewart, B. M.]. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill, 217-255.

Masterson J, 2007. Pterios volitans. Pterios volitans. Fort Pierce: Smithsonian Marine Station, unpaginated. http://www.sms.si.edu/IRLSpec/Pterois_volitans.htm

Morell V, 2010. Mystery of the Lionfish: Don't Blame Hurricane Andrew. ScienceInsider, 29 April 2010. http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2010/04/mystery-of-the-lionfish-dont-bla

Morris JA, 2009. The biology and ecology of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish. North Carolina, USA: Raleigh University, unpaginated.

Morris JA; Akins JL, 2009. Feeding ecology of invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Bahamian archipelago. Environ. Biol. Fish, 86:389-398.

Morris JA; Akins JL; Bares A; Cerino D; Freshwater DW; Greens SJ; Munoz RC; Paris C; Whitfield PE, 2008. Biology and ecology of the invasive lionfishes, Pterois miles and Pterois volitans. In: Proceedings of the 61st Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute November 10 - 14, 2008 Gosier, Goudeloupe, French West Indies. unpaginated.

Myers RF, 1999. Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia. Barrigada, Guam: Coral Graphics, 330 pp.

Nagaty HF; Abdelaal TM, 1962. Trematodes of fishes from the Red Sea. Part 15. Four new species of Hamacreadium family Allocreadiidae. Journal of Parasitology, 48(3):384-386.

NationNews, 2011. Lionfish found here. NationNews.com, 14 December 2011. http://www.nationnews.com/index.php/articles/view/lionfish-here/

NOAA, 2004. Coral reef conservation program. Coral reef news, 1(5):5. http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcrcp/news/newsletter/04archive/resources/crnewsseptember2004.pdf

NOAA, 2006. NOAA says invasive species prevention and control focus needed on non-native lionfish. NOAA says invasive species prevention and control focus needed on non-native lionfish. unpaginated. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2735.htm

NOAA, 2010. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration., USA: United States Department of Commerce, unpaginated. http://www.noaa.gov/

Ouvrard M, 2008. The lionfish - beauty or beast. The lionfish - beauty or beast. unpaginated. [Pterois volitans.] http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/ouvrard_mich/index.html

Oxenford H, 2012. New collaborative research project on lionfish led by CERMES gets underway. Cermes Connections, February 2012:1-2.

Paperna I, 1972. Monogenea of Red Sea fishes. III. Dactylogyridae from littoral and reef fishes. Journal of Helminthology, 46(1):47-62.

Randall JE; Allen GR; Steene RC, 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and coral sea. Bathurst, NSW, Australia: Crawford House Publishing Pty Ltd., 557 pp.

REEF, 2008. REEF invasive lionfish research project schedule. REEF Environmental Education Foundation. unpaginated. http://www.reef.org/programs/exotic/lionfish/trips

Robins RH, 2010. The indo-pacific lionfish, Pterois volitans (Pisces: scorpaenidea) new to Bahamas ichthyofauna. The indo-pacific lionfish, Pterois volitans (Pisces: scorpaenidea) new to Bahamas ichthyofauna. unpaginated. http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/RedLionfish/RLionfish.html

Ruiz-Carus R; Matheson RE; Roberts DE; Whitfield PE, 2006. The western Pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Scorpaenidae), in Florida: evidence for reproduction and parasitism in the first exotic marine fish established in state waters. Journal of Biological Conservation, 128:384-390.

Sano M; Shimizu M; Nose Y, 1984. Food habits of teleostean reef fishes in Okinawa Island, southern Japan. Tokyo, Japan: University of Tokyo Press, 128 pp.

Saunders PR; Lifton SE, 1960. Sting by a venomous lionfish. US Armed Forces Med Journal, 11:224.

Schofield PJ, 2009. Geographic extent and chronology of the invasion of non-native lionfish (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus 1758] and P. miles [Bennett 1828]) in the Western North Atlantic and Caribbean Sea. Aquatic Invasions, 4(3):473-479.

Schofield PJ, 2010. Update on geographic spread of invasive lionfishes (Pterois volitans [Linnaeus, 1758] and P. miles [Bennett, 1828]) in the Western North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Aquatic Invasions, 5(Supplement 1):S117-S122. doi: 10.3391/ai.2010.5.S1.024

Schofield PJ; Morris JA Jr; Langston JN; Fuller PL, 2010. Pterois volitans/miles. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database. Gainesville, FL, USA: USGS, unpaginated. http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=963

Schultz ET, 1986. Pterois volitans and Pterois miles: two valid species. Copeia, 3:686-690.

Smith C; Reay P, 1991. Cannibalism in teleost fish. Rev. Fish. Biol. Fish, 1:41-64.

Sri Balasubashini M; Karthigayan S; Somasundaram ST; Balasubramanian T; Viswanathan P; Menon VP, 2006. Fish venom (Pterois volitans) peptide reduces tumour burden and ameliorates oxidative stress in Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma xenografted mice. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 16:6219-6225.

Sri Balasubashini M; Karthigayan S; Somasundaram ST; Balasubramanian T; Viswanathan P; Menon VP, 2006. In vivo and in vitro characterization of the biochemical and pathological changes induced by lionfish (Pterios volitans) venom in mice. Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods, 16:525-531.

Vetrano SJ; Lebowitz JB; Marcus S, 2002. Lionfish envenomation. J. Emerg. Med, 23(4):379-82.

Whitfield P; Gardner T; Vives SP; Gilligan MR; Courtenay WR; Ray GC; Harem JA, 2002. Biological invasion of the Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) along the Atlantic coast of North America. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 235:289-297.

Whitfield PE; Hare JA; David AW; Harter SL; Munoz RC; Addison CM, 2006. Abundance estimates of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans/miles complex in the Western North Atlantic. Biol. Invasions, 9:53-64.

Whitney D, 2003. Introduced species summary project: lionfish (Pterois volitans). Introduced species summary project: lionfish (Pterois volitans). New York, USA: Colombia University, unpaginated. http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/danoff-burg/invasion_bio/inv_spp_summ/Pterois_volitans.html

Wood M, 2001. "Pterois volitans" (on-line). Animal Diversity Web. unpaginated. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pterois_volitans.html

Links to Websites

Organizations

USA: Centre for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research CCFHR, 101 Pivers Island Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, http://www.ccfhr.noaa.gov/ http://www.ccfhr.noaa.gov/

USA: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission National FWCC, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701-5020, http://research.myfwc.com

USA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/ National Centre for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species, Beaufort North Carolina, http://www.noaa.gov

USA: Reef Environmental Education Foundation REEF, REEF Headquarters P.O. Box 246, http://www.reef.org

Contributors

25/02/10 Original text by:

Tagried Kurwie, Mahurangi Technical Institute1 Glenmore Drive, Warkworth, New Zealand

Distribution Maps