Pterois

genus of fish

Pterois, also known as lionfish, is a genus of venomous marine fish. They are found mostly in the Indo-Pacific.

Pterois
Pterois volitans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Tribe: Pteroini
Genus: Pterois
Oken, 1817[1]
Type species
Scorpaena volitans
Bloch, 1787[2]
Synonyms[1]
  • Macrochirus Swainson, 1839
  • Pseudomonopterus Bleeker, 1863
  • Pteroleptus Swainson, 1839
  • Pteropterus Swainson, 1839

Pterois is characterized by warning coloration with red, white, creamy, or black bands, showy pectoral fins and venomous spiky fin rays.[3] Pterois are classified into a number of different species, but Pterois radiata, Pterois volitans and Pterois miles are the most commonly studied. Pterois are popular aquarium fish and are readily used for cooking.[3]

Pterois are about 2.44in (6.2cm) to 16.69in (42.4 cm) with typical adults measuring 14.96in (37.9 cm) . They weigh an average of 1.05 lbs (0.47 kg).[4]

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Scorpaenidae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  2. Gilbert Whitley (1939). "Ichthyological genotypes: Desmarest's designations, 1874". Australian Zoologist. 9 (3): 222–226.
  3. 3.0 3.1 National Geographic (11 April 2010). "Lionfish". Archived from the original on 13 January 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  4. Whitfield P.E. et al 2006. Abundance estimates of the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans/miles complex in the Western North Atlantic. Biological Invasions. 9(1):53–64.