Pterois Volitans Collection (page 2)

Invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish on wreck in North Carolina

Scuba diver nets invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish off the coast of North Carolina

Common lionfish, full body view, Solomon Islands
Common lionfish (Pterois volitans), full body view, Solomon Islands

Close-up view of a lionfish. Gorontalo, Indonesia
Close-up view of a lionfish (Pterois volitans), Gorontalo, Indonesia

Common lionfish with diver in background, Solomon Islands
Common lionfish (Pterois volitans) with diver and torch in background, Solomon Islands

A large common lionfish swimming at Beqa Lagoon, Fiji
A large common lionfish (Pterois volitans) swimming at Beqa Lagoon, Fiji

Diver spears an invasive Indo-Pacific Lionfish in the Caribbean Sea

A red lionfish resting on a coral reef unthreatened
A red lionfish resting on a coral reef apparently not threatened due to the fins not displayed. A large barrel sponge forms the backdrop in the clear warm waters of Papua New Guinea

Close-up view of a lionfish, Curacao

A lionfish swims beneath a pier off the coast of Belize. Lionfish are an introduced species to the Caribbean Sea and have no natural predators

A diver looks on at a lionfish hovering above staghorn coral, Indonesia
A diver looks on at a lionfish (Pterois volitans) hovering above staghorn coral, Gorontalo, Sulawesi, Indonesia

Common lionfish (Pterois volitans) at night near the dock of the Komodo Island Diving Resort, Sebayur Island, Komodo Island National Park, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Lion fish - Pterois volitans

Red Lion Fish (Pterois volitans) showing close-up of eye and striped body

Red lionfish (Pterois volitans)

Portrait of common lionfis
A portrait of a common lionfish, Pterois volitans. Photographed at Masi Raja, Pinnacles, Halmahera, Maluku Islands, Indonesia

Pterois volitans, red lionfish
LS Plate 150 from the John Reeves Collection. John Reeves, a 19th Century Tea Inspector, travelled to Canton, China in order to develop a large collection of Chinese natural history drawings

Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) Coral Reef Island, Belize Barrier Reef. Second largest barrier reef system in the world. Belize, Central America

Lionfish (Turkeyfish), Pterois volitans, at Daedalus Reef (Abu el-Kizan), Red Sea, Egypt

Juvenile lionfish (Pterois volitans). This fish has poisonous spines in its fins. These cause excruciating pain, but a sting is rarely fatal to a human. Photographed off Komodo, Indonesia

Red lionfish (Pterois volitans). Lionfish are highly venomous. Their long dorsal spines are laced with a dangerous toxin and are normally used for defence. Photographed in the Red Sea

Red lionfish on a reef
Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) with lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) on a reef. Lionfish are highly venomous predatory marine fish

Red lionfish over a shipwreck. Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) are highly venomous predatory marine fish. Their long dorsal spines are laced with a dangerous toxin and are normally used for defence

Red lionfish hunting over a reef
Red lionfish hunting cardinalfish (family Apogonidae) on a reef. Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) are highly venomous predatory marine fish

Red Firefish (Pterois volitans). Indo Pacific
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Lionfish (Pterois volitans). Egyptian Red sea against a blue background with Anthiases. 28-6-2007
Len Deeley / SplashdownDirect

Red Firefish (Pterois volitans). Indo Pacific
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Large Lion fish looking up at diver sillouette. Thailand
Jo Mahy / SplashdownDirect

Lionfish, Pterois volitans, Similan Islands, Thailand (Andaman Sea)
Andre Seale / SplashdownDirect

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The mesmerizing beauty of the pterois volitans, commonly known as the Lionfish, is undeniable. With its vibrant colors and intricate patterns, it effortlessly blends into the colorful tapestry of a reef. But behind this captivating facade lies a deadly predator. The Red Lionfish flares its spines in warning, showcasing its formidable defense mechanism. This species, scientifically referred to as Scorpaena volitans (Pterois volitans), has become notorious for being an invasive threat to native marine life. In many regions around the world, these Lionfish have taken over reefs with alarming speed, wreaking havoc on local ecosystems. Their voracious appetite knows no bounds as they indiscriminately prey on smaller fish and crustaceans. One can spot these invasive creatures patrolling the edges of stunning dive sites like Suzie's Bommie near Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea or swimming gracefully under coral ledges in Palau. Their presence is a constant reminder of the delicate balance between nature's wonders and human interference. A close-up portrait reveals the fierce determination in their eyes as they navigate through their new territories. In places like the Caribbean, where they have established themselves as an invasive species, efforts are being made to control their population and minimize their impact on local biodiversity. Young lionfish can be seen near the water's surface at dusk when they hunt silversides with remarkable agility, and is during these moments that one witnesses both their gracefulness and potential danger up close. As we marvel at their beauty from afar or encounter them underwater during our dives, let us not forget that pterois volitans serves as a stark reminder of humanity's role in shaping our environment – both positively and negatively.