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Red Lionfish - Juvenile
Pterois volitans
9.92404, 123.345
Field Notes
Description:
This Juvenile, less than 4 cm in body size is simply gorgeous with its flowing pectoral fins looking like wings. The pectoral fins are transparent and in between each spines, it has red/orangish spots/circles.
Red lionfish are clad in white stripes alternated with red/maroon/brown stripes. Adults in this species can grow as large as 47 cm (18.5 in) in length, making it one of the largest species of lionfish in the ocean, while juveniles are typically shorter than 1 inch (2.5 cm). The average red lionfish lives around 10 years. As with many species within the Scopaenidae family, it has large, venomous spines that protrude from the body, similar to a mane, giving it the common name lionfish. The venomous spines make the fish inedible or deter most potential predators.
Habitat:
P. volitans is native to the Indo-Pacific region,[4] including the western and central Pacific and off the coast of western Australia. However, the species has been accidentally introduced into the Western Atlantic and has become an invasive species there and has become common in the North Gulf of Mexico as well.
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