Lion Fish

Taxonomy

Kingdom- Animalia

Phylum- Chordata

Class- Actinopterygii

Family- Scorpaenidae

Order- Scorpaeniformes

Genus- Pterois

Species- Pterois Volitans

Evolution

All subspecies: Lionfish are divided into three genera: Pteroids, Dendrochirus and Nemipterids.

The last two species are considered as dwarf lionfish

First detected along Florida coasts in the mid-1980s.

The closest relative- The Devil firefish

3 ancestors of this species- firefish, turkeyfish, and the tasty fish.

Description

Physical description- Lionfish have distinctive brown or maroon, and white stripes or bands covering the head and body. They have fleshy tentacles above their eyes and below the mouth. They are really almond-shaped, they have a bigger and wider upper body but skinnier in the back.

Point key characteristics of species- They have 17 venomous spines basically all around their body. They use this as a defensive mechanism.

Size- 12-15 inches in length

Weight- 2 and a half pounds

Lifespan- 10 years

Differences between males and females- When lionfish are ready to reproduce, Males turn darker and are more uniformly colored (their stripes are not as apparent). Females with ripening eggs become paler. Their belly, pharyngeal region, and mouth become silvery white.

You can see the 2 tentacles that look like feathers above the Lionfish's eyes in the left photo.

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Description of the habitat

Plants- Lionfish tend to stay in areas with lots of coral and also take place on the hard bottom of the sea or shipwrecks. They stay at mangroves, seagrasses, and artificial reefs.

Animals- Like I said the coral is actually an animal itself so it tends to stay towards them for food and more of a second go diet. Lionfish are most compatible with rock beauty angelfish, threadfin butterflyfish, Foxface rabbitfish, blue tang, and maroon clownfish.

Temperature- they can stay in temperatures as low as 10 degrees celsius and up to 50 degrees celsius.

Terrain- Lionfish are native to coral reefs in the tropical waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Distribution

Continents Found- South Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Invasive at all- Lionfish have become the poster child for invasive species issues in the western north Atlantic region. The lionfish is an invasive species that threatens the state's commercial fishing industry because they eat the foods that grouper and snapper eat, along with juvenile grouper and snapper.

Diet

What does it eat- known to prey on more than 70 marine fish and invertebrate species including yellowtail snapper, Nassau grouper, parrotfish, banded coral shrimp, and cleaner species.

How often does it eat- 2 to 3 times a week

How does it get its food- Lionfish are stalking predators that often corral prey into a corner. They can consume prey that are more than half of their own length.

Any special foods- the lionfish really likes to maintain the algae growth and the amount of it on the coral. The Lionfish really likes to diet on the coral reefs on the most part.

Social Structure

Live in packs or solo- They may live alone for the majority of their lives, however, they may live in small groups when they are juveniles and during the spawning season.

Roles within the community- Lionfish are one of the many fish that are very unique looking but their role really serves a good impact towards keeping the algae healthy on the coral reefs.

Male or female led groups- Lionfish will form small groups when breeding. A group will consist of one male and 2-7 females.

How do they interact with each other- Since they're only in a small group in a small time in their life, all they do is really reproduce with each other and find prey.

Reproduction

How do they mate- Just before reaching the surface the female will release her two egg sacks and as the sacks are ascending to the surface the male will turn upside down and release a cloud of sperm into the sacks. This is enacted as their ritual too.

How many mates do they have- the mating normally happens just one on one.

Time of year for mating- They mate all year long

Number of offspring produced at a time- between 10,000 and 30,000 unfertilized eggs every 4 days year round.

Any unique characteristics of their mating- The males use their spines and fins in a visual display to intimidate their rivals but attract potential mates.

Development

Stages of development- The unfertilized eggs in every 4 days, the female releases two egg masses that are fertilized by the male. Approximately 36 hours later, the eggs hatch into larva. Then the juvenile lionfish is made from the larva and the Juvenile lives in a wide range of habitats. And then the Lionfish lives up to 10 years for their lifespan.

How old before sexual maturity- The juvenile’s maturity normally takes up to a year.

Activities and environment of stages- In the stages of larva, Larvae hatch after four days and become competent swimmers two to three days after that. They immediately begin growing their spines as their defense system and hunting food for themselves. In the Juvenile stages, this is more for the ‘make your decisions and leave’ type of move for them by the parents.

Difference between males and females- There were significant differences in growth and size-at-age between sexes and habitats, with males attaining larger sizes-at-age than females and fish growing faster at natural reefs.

Causes of Death

Predation- Groupers or sharks

Sexual Competition- As the predators ‘Groupers and Sharks’ the Lionfish also have to compete with them as well for food and other things like coral.

Disease- In Florida, there are parasites that build upon water molds. This can be a recipe for a disease and potential infections. evaluations of the fins, gills and skin ulcers of ulcerated lionfish.

Competition

Inter species- within the species- In their species, the lionfish competes with the Nassau Grouper for food.

Intra species- with other species- Invasive lionfish have shown to be exceptionally effective predators upon twenty-one different families of small reef fishes as well as numerous different species of crustaceans.

What do they compete over- Resources and living spaces in the coral. They live in the same type of environment.

Effect of invasive species- Their presence could negatively affect the well-being of valuable commercial and recreational fisheries. As lionfish populations grow, they put additional stress on coral reefs.

IUCN Rating

What is the rating?- Least concern

Population- over 1,000 lionfish per acre

Population trend- recently the trend has been decreasing.

Impact of Humans

What impacts have occurred- This means their presence could negatively affect the well-being of valuable commercial and recreational fisheries

Potential future impacts- The degradation of the coral species, since the lionfish really put stress on the coral and maintain them

How long have humans been been interacting with this species- since the 1980s

Efforts being made to minimize impacts- An Appetite for Destruction.

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