Life History and Behavior of Red Lionfish

Reproduction

They are mainly a solitary species and courting is the only time when aggregate, generally 1 male with several females. Both P. volitans and P. miles are gonochoristic, only showing sexual dimorphism during reproduction. Similar courtship behaviors are observed in all Pterois species. These behaviors include circling, sidewinding, following, and leading. The lionfish are mostly nocturnal, leading to the behaviors typically around nightfall and continuing through the night. After courtship the female releases two egg masses that are fertilized by the male before floating to the surface. The eggs are kept together by a mucus which disintegrates within a few days to release larvae. Data collected suggests that lionfish can reproduce monthly, through all seasons of the year.

Early life history and dispersal

Although little is known about the larval stage of the lionfish, some traits of the larvae include a large head, a long, triangular snout, long, serrated head spines, a larve pelvic spine, and coloration only in the pelvic fins. Larvae hatch 36 hours after fertilization. The larvae are good swimmers and can eat small ciliates just 4 days after conception. The larval stage is the shortest stage of the lionfish’s life, with a duration of about one month.

Predators and Prey

There has been very little documentation of any true predators of the lionfish. It has been suggested that larger fish and sharks that should be able to eat the lionfish have not recognized the lionfish as prey due to the novelty of the fish in the invaded areas. Lionfish have, however, infrequently been found in the stomachs of grouper. The lionfish themselves are voracious feeders and have outcompeted and filled the niche of the overfished snapper and grouper. When hunting, they corner prey using their large fins and then use their quick reflexes to swallow the prey whole. They hunt primarily from late afternoon to dawn. High rates of prey consumption, a wide variety of diet, and increasing abundance of the fish lead to concern that the fish may have a very active role in the already declining trend of fish densities. As the fish become more abundant, they are becoming a threat to the fragile ecosystems that they have invaded. Between outcompeting similar fish and having a large diet, the lionfish is drastically changing and disrupting the food chains that hold the marine ecosystems together. As these chains are distrupted, we continue to see declining densities of other fish populations, as well as a decline in the overall diversity of coral reef areas.

Lionfish have venomous dorsal spines that are used purely for defense. When threatened, the fish often faces its attacker in an upside down posture which brings its spines to bear. However, a lionfish's sting is usually not fatal to humans. If a human is envenomed, that person will experience extreme pain, and possibly headaches, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. A common treatment is soaking the afflicted area in hot water, as very few hospitals carry specific treatments. However, immediate emergency medical treatment is still advised, as some people are more susceptible to the venom than others.

As an invasive

Two of the fifteen species of Pterois, P. volitans and P. miles, have established themselves as significant invasive species off the East Coast of the United States and in the Caribbean. About 93% of the invasive lionfish population is P. volitans, also known as the Red Lionfish. The red lionfish is found off the East Coast of the United States and the Caribbean Sea, and was likely first introduced off the Florida coast in the early to mid- 1990s. Adult lionfish specimens are now found along the United States East Coast from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, to Florida, and in Bermuda, the Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean, including the Turks and Caicos, Haiti, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, Belize, Honduras, Aruba and Mexico.