What Is a Lionfish?

Answer:

A Lionfish is any of several species of venomous marine fish in the genera Pterois, Parapterois, Brachypterois, Ebosia or Dendrochirus, of the family Scorpaenidae. The lionfish is also known as the Turkey Fish, Scorpion or Fire Fish. They are notable for their extremely long and separated spines, and have a generally striped appearance: red, green, navy green, brown, orange, yellow, black, maroon, or white.

The lionfish is native to the Indian Pacific oceanic region. This range extends from western Australia and Malaysia east to French Polynesia and the Pitcairn Islands. In addition, the range also extends north to southern Japan and southern Korea and south to parts of coastal Australia. The lionfish has also recently been discovered on the shores of Jamaica (W.I.) and Panama.

Although the lionfish is not native to all regions in the world, these fish continue to spread throughout many parts of the world.

There are many types of lionfish that vary in size. The common lionfish, or devil firefish, generally reaches a size of 30 cm to 35 cm (12 inches), while smaller lionfish, like the fuzzy dwarf lionfish, Dendrochirus brachypterus, are typically the size of a tennis ball, not including fins. In the Caribbean, where lionfish are not indigenous, they grow to up to 55 cm.

The lionfish is one of the most venomous fish on the ocean floor. Lionfish have venomous dorsal spines that are used purely for defense. When threatened, the fish often faces its attacker in an upside down posture which brings its spines to bear. However, a lionfish's sting is usually not fatal to humans. If a human is envenomed, that person 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. Immediate emergency medical treatment is still advised, as some people are more susceptible to the venom than others.