Are lionfish known by other names? Eating lionfish is a great idea, they say. Description. The red lionfish is a predatory scorpionfish that lives among coral reefs in the western Pacific Ocean. The Lionfish is colorful and the design of the body gives various predators a strange signal. Photo courtesy NOAA. One of the most known species of lionfish is the red lionfish. Pterois volitans, which makes up approximately 93% of the invasive lionfish population, is also commonly called “red lionfish” and Pterois miles is often called the “common lionfish” or “devil firefish.” The native range of the red lionfish is the western Pacific Ocean and Eastern Indian Ocean. Known for their beauty as well as their venom, Lionfish are also aggressive feeders and explosive breeders. Fun Facts about the Lionfish. Lionfish truly are an amazing invasive species. Just be smart about it. It is an invasive species in the western Atlantic. 1. -Red lionfish-African/Mombasa lionfish-Indian Ocean shortfin lionfish. Because of their beauty and color, lionfish are popular aquarium fish. It's known for its distinctive red, white, and dark maroon vertical stripes. However, in the Atlantic and Caribbean it is lionfish reproduction that is one of the main reasons why lionfish are taking over. Approximately 93% of these invasive fish are one species – the red lionfish. Non-native red lionfish (Pterois volitans) photographed over the Outer Shelf Reefs off Cape Fear, NC. It gets its common name from its long, fin rays that resemble a lion’s mane. Bermuda Lionfish Fact Sheet (Pterois volitans & Pterois miles) The invasion of lionfish poses a major threat to the Western Atlantic and Bermuda's marine ecosystem Origins: Lionfish are an invasive species in the Western Atlantic and are likely to cause economic and environmental harm; Lionfish originate from the Indo-Pacific Region Lionfish do not belong in the tropical Atlantic. A beastly problem. Their natural domain is in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, where they are a normal and healthy part of reef ecosystems. The red lionfish has been known to science since the time of Linnaeus, who described the species in 1758 based upon material collected by his friend and benefactor, the Dutch naturalist Johan Frederik Gronovius. The size of a lionfish depends on the species it belongs to. Where do the names “Pterios volitans” and “Pterois miles” come from? This species has venomous spines to guard against predation. Typical red lionfish habitat is described as near and offshore coral and rocky reefs to depths of about 165 feet (50 meters). The Red Lionfish, Pterois volitans, is a strikingly beautiful but venomous fish indigenous to the west Pacific.A relatively large fish, Red Lionfish can grow up to sizes of 45cm (~17.7 in). These fish can have a number of spines and fins protruding, including 13 or more dorsal spines and dermal tassels above their eyes and below their mouths. The similar Pterois miles occurs in area between the Red Sea and Sumatra. It is believed that they were originally released into the Atlantic from Florida, with the first recorded incident being fish escaping from a destroyed aquarium during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Lionfish Facts and Information Pterois antennata Introduction to Lionfish. In their Pacific home waters over thousands of years their numbers have been kept under control as part of the natural balance of nature on the reef. Lionfish are also known as zebrafish, firefish, turkeyfish, butterfly-cod, scorpion fish and dragon fish. It tells them that this isn’t a good type of food source for them to be about to contend with.