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Lionfish have 18 venomous spines total: 2 pelvic spines, 3 anal spines, and 13 dorsal spines. Pterois is a genus of venomous marine fish, commonly known as the lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific. It is characterized by conspicuous warning coloration with red or black bands and ostentatious dorsal fins tipped with venomous spines.
Lionfish have been known to feed on at least 50 species, from the parrotfish that keep coral reefs healthy to the economically vital grouper and snapper that are popular in restaurants.
It has few predators, probably because of its venomous spines, but larger lionfish do prey on smaller ones. Moray eels have shown resistance to the spines and it was reported that lion fish are included in their diet. The bluespotted cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii) has been shown to feed on it, as also do groupers in the Bahamas. [6]
The most venomous known fish is the reef stonefish. It is an ambush predator which waits camouflaged on the bottom. The beautiful and highly visible lionfish uses venomous barbs around its body as a defence against predators. The stargazer buries itself out of sight. It can deliver electric shocks as well as venom. The stinger of a stingray
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This moray eel was recently identified as a natural predator of the lionfish (Pterois miles) in its native habitat in the Red Sea. [9] A mature giant moray has few natural predators, although it may compete for food with reef-dwelling sharks. [10] Cleaner wrasses are commonly found in its presence, cleaning the interior of its mouth.
The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a venomous coral reef fish in the family Scorpaenidae, order Scorpaeniformes.It is mainly native to the Indo-Pacific region, but has become an invasive species in the Caribbean Sea, as well as along the East Coast of the United States and East Mediterranean and also found in Brazil at Fernando de Noronha.