Pterois Miles or The Common Lionfish

Pterois Miles (Common Lionfish)
Scientific classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Actinopterygii
Order	Scorpaeniformes
Family	Scorpaenidae
Subfamily	Pteroinae
Genus	Pterois
Species	P. miles
Binomial name
Pterois miles (Bennett, 1828)

Pterois miles is known as the common lionfish or devil firefish. It is frequently confused with its close relative, the red lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Description : 

Length up to 35 cm. This lionfish varies in colour from reddish to tan or grey, and has a feathery dorsal fin and wing-like pectoral fin. Its face is less angular than the Volitan Lionfish.

Habitat :

Areas with crevices or lagoons, often on the outer slope of coral reefs.

Distribution :

Indian Ocean: Red Sea, South Africa, Indonesia, Also known in eastern Mediterranean. Very similar in appearance to Pterois volitans which does not occur in the Red Sea.

Hazards :

Fin spines are highly venomous and can be dangerous to humans.

Pterois Miles Picture

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Pterois Volitans (Red Lion Fish)

Pterois Volitans (Red Lion Fish)
Scientific classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Actinopterygii
Order	Scorpaeniformes
Family	Scorpaenidae
Subfamily	Pteroinae
Genus	Pterois
Species	P. volitans
Binomial name
Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758)

The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish in the family Scorpaenidae, order Scorpaeniformes. P. volitans is natively found in the Indo-Pacific region, but has become a huge invasive problem in the Caribbean Sea and along the East coast of the United States along with a similar species, Pterois miles. Red lionfish are clad in white stripes alternated with red, maroon, or brown. Adults can grow as large as 17 inches (43 cm) in length while juveniles may be shorter than 1 inch (2.5 cm). They can live up to 10 years. The fish has large venomous spines that protrude from the body like a mane, giving it the common name of the lionfish. The venomous spines make the fish inedible or deter most potential predators. Lionfish reproduce monthly and are able to quickly disperse during their larval stage for expansion of their invasive region. There are no definitive predators of the lionfish, and many organizations are promoting the harvest and consumption of lionfish in efforts to prevent further increases in the already high population densities.

Pterois Volitans Picture

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Pterois radiata

Pterois Radiata
Scientific classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Actinopterygii
Order	Scorpaeniformes
Family	Scorpaenidae
Subfamily	Pteroinae
Genus	Pterois
Species	P. Radiata
Binomial name
Pterois radiata (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.
It 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 tail.

Pterois Radiata Picture

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