Devil firefish

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Common Lionfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Scorpaeniformes Family: Scorpaenidae Subfamily: Pteroinae Genus: Pterois Species: P. miles
Binomial name
Pterois miles Bennett, 1828

Known as the common lionfish or Devil firefish. This fish is frequently confused with its close relative, the Red lionfish

Contents 1 Description 2 Habitat 3 Distribution 4 Hazards 5 References

[edit] Description

Length up to 35cm. This lionfish varies in colour from reddish to tan or grey, and has a feathery dorsal fin and wing-like pectoral fin.

[edit] Habitat

Areas with crevices or lagoons, often on the outer slope of coral reefs.^[1] the fish is red

[edit] Distribution

Indian Ocean: Red Sea, South Africa, Indonesia, Also known in eastern Mediterranean. Very similar in appearance to pterois volitans which does not occur in the red sea.

[edit] Hazards

Fin spines are highly venomous and can be dangerous to humans.^[2]

Pterois miles variation in appearance, possibly juvenile

Pterois miles variation, side view

[edit] References

1. ^ Siliotti, A. (2002) fishes of the red sea Verona, Geodia ISBN 88-87177-42-2
2. ^ "pterois miles". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 5 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.