Red Lionfish
Pterois volitans · ter-OY-is voh-LY-tanz
nocturnalsolitaryLeast Concern
EdibleUnfriendlyDangerousVenomous
Superpower
Spreads its fan of fins to herd prey, then swallows them with a lightning gulp.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 30 cm, up to 47 cm
- Lifespan
- 10–15 years
- Depth
- 1–50 m
Habitat
Coral reefs, wrecks and lagoons.
Diet
Small fish and shrimp, cornered with its fanned fins.
Can I eat it?
Yes — edible · tastiness 7/10.
How to cook: Surprisingly tasty white flesh once the venomous spines are removed.
Safety
- Dangerous4/10
Won't chase you, but a careless touch earns a very painful sting.
- Venomous7/10
Up to 18 venomous spines; a sting is intensely painful but seldom fatal.
Fun facts
- It is native and balanced in the Indo-Pacific, but a destructive invader in the Atlantic.
- Its showy fins are a warning that its spines are venomous.
- It can swallow prey more than half its own length.