Pterois miles

Size range: ?-35 cm FishBase.

Common size: FishBase.

Habitat: Specify the title (Hard, Soft or Vegetation) and the type:

• Hard - rocky, coral, artificial
• Soft - sand , silt, mud
• Vegetation - seaweed, sea grass

Water column position:

• Supra-benthic

Colors & patterns:

• Mature individuals with white and brown vertical bands. Dorsal spines elongated with pale white end. Tip of tails translucent with black spots. Couple antennas above the eyes.
• Juveniles usually black

Behavior:

1. Whether the species is:

• Cryptic - May hold still for relatively long period in small caves, Sometime upside-down.
• Reef-associated - related to sites it inhabits and coral reefs

2. Activity:

• Nocturnal - Usually active during twilight and night time.
• Both - seldom active during daytime.

3. Approach:

• Easily approached
• Bold

4. A concise Ambush feeder, thus most of the time lays without moving near the substrate/ reefs.

Schooling characteristics:

• Solitary to small groups

Native/Exotic: Exotic in the Eastern Mediterranean Basin

EM notes: Becomes common over the years in shallow habitats to 100 m deep. In Israel mostly seen int the central-northern shores.