Pterois radiata

Clearfin lionfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Scorpaenidae
Genus:	Pterois
Species:	P. radiata
Binomial name
Pterois radiata G. Cuvier, 1829

Pterois radiata, also known as the clearfin lionfish, tailbar lionfish, radiata lionfish or radial firefish, is a carnivorous, ray-finned fish with venomous spines that lives in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. This is the only lionfish species which has spines without any markings. It can also be recognized by the pair of horizontal white stripes on its caudal peduncle.

Description

Pterois radiata grows to a length of about 24 cm (9 in) though a more usual size is 20 cm (8 in). The dorsal fin has twelve or thirteen long, venomous spines and ten to twelve soft rays. The anal fin has three spines and five to six soft rays. The large pectoral fins flare out to the side and are clear and unbanded. The other fins are also colourless. The head and body colour is reddish-brown with about six vertical dark bands of different colour on the body separated by thin white lines. There are two white horizontal lines on the caudal peduncle which distinguishes this fish from other similar lionfishes.^[1][2]

Distribution and habitat

Pterois radiata is native to the western Indo-Pacific region. Its range extends from South Africa and the Red Sea to Indonesia, the Society Islands, the Ryukyu Islands, northern Australia and New Caledonia. It is found on both inshore and offshore rocky reefs at depths down to about 25 m (82 ft). Juvenile fish are sometimes found in tide pools.^[2]

Biology

Pterois radiata is mainly nocturnal. It spends the day hiding in rock crevices, in small caves or under overhangs. It emerges at night to feed on invertebrates such as crabs and shrimps.^[1]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pterois radiata.

• "Pterois radiata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2006-04-18.