All you need to know about this nocturnal, marine, native fish
Is the lionfish venomous?
Lionfish venom causes extreme pain, nausea and troubled breathing in humans.
Is the lionfish invasive?
Since the 1980s, Pterois volitans and Pterois miles have become infamous invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.
Is the lionfish a predator?
Lionfish blow jets of water at prey to disorient and confuse them. Individuals flare their fins to communicate and cooperatively hunt shoals of fish.
About the Authors
Wenzel Pinto
is a marine biologist at the Nature Conservation Foundation and is currently working on reef dynamics and island vulnerability in the Lakshadweep archipelago.
Diviya Mehra
is a graphic designer. She was the former art director of National Geographic Traveller. Her love for animals, travel and design has shaped her career through the years.
