Pterois miles

Pterois miles
"P. Miles" redirects here. For the music artist, see P. Miles Bryson.
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).

Contents

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.[1]

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.

References

  1. ^ Siliotti, A. (2002) fishes of the red sea Verona, Geodia ISBN 88-87177-42-2
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