Pterois miles

Pterois miles - 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 (J. W. Bennett, 1828)

Pterois miles, commonly known as the common lionfish or devil firefish, is a species of ray-finned fish. It is native to the western Indo-Pacific region and is frequently confused with its close relative, the red lionfish (Pterois volitans). The scientific name is from Greek "pteron", wing, and Latin "miles", soldier.

Description

The common lionfish grows up to 35 cm (14 in) in length. The dorsal fin has thirteen long, strong spines and nine to eleven soft rays and the anal fin has three long spines and six to seven soft rays. The dorsal fin appears feathery and the pectoral fins are wing-like with separate broad, smooth rays. This fish varies in colour from reddish to tan or grey and has numerous thin dark vertical bars on its head and body.^[1] Its head is less angular than that of P. volitans.

Behaviour

The common lionfish is mainly nocturnal and may hide in crevices during the daytime. It feeds on fish and small crustaceans. It has few predators, probably because of its venomous spines, but larger lionfish do prey on smaller ones. It has been shown that the bluespotted cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii) feeds on it, as also do groupers in the Bahamas.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

P. miles is native to the Indian Ocean, from the Red Sea, to South Africa, and to Indonesia; it is also known in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It is very similar in appearance to P. volitans, which does not occur in the Red Sea, and it has recently been reported in the South Eastern Mediterranean sea, near Cyprus. Because of the current elections at the island, it has been dubbed the "tasaki" (ashtray) fish. This fish is usually found in areas with crevices or lagoons, often on the outer slopes of coral reefs.^[3] It is also now present on the east coast of the United States and in the Caribbean Sea where is is regarded as an invasive species.^[2]

Hazards

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pterois miles.

The fin spines are highly venomous and have caused death to humans.^[1]

Images

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  Common lionfish near Dunraven wreck (Red Sea)

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  Pterois miles near Marsa Alam (Red Sea)

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  Common lionfish hunting glassfish at El Mina wreck (Red Sea)

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  Common lionfish at Sataya reef (Red Sea)

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  Common lionfish at Shaab Angosh reef (Red Sea)

References