lionfish

li·on·fish

L0190550 (lī′ən-fĭsh′)n. pl. lionfish or lion·fish·es Any of various colorful scorpionfishes chiefly of the genera Pterois and Dendrochirus, native to the Pacific and Indian Oceans but introduced elsewhere, having a striped body with long pectoral fins and venomous spines in the dorsal fin.

lionfish

(ˈlaɪənˌfɪʃ) n, pl -fish or -fishes (Animals) any of various scorpion fishes of the tropical Pacific genus Pterois, having a striped body and elongated spiny fins

li•on•fish

(ˈlaɪ ənˌfɪʃ)

n., pl. -fish•es, (esp. collectively) -fish. any of several long-finned, brightly striped scorpionfishes, esp. of the genus Pterois. [1905–10]

Thesaurus

Noun

lionfish - brightly striped fish of the tropical Pacific having elongated spiny finsscorpaenid, scorpaenid fish - any of numerous carnivorous usually bottom-dwelling warm-water marine fishes found worldwide but most abundant in the Pacificgenus Pterois, Pterois - lionfishes

lionfish

lionfish,

common name for a genus (Pterois) of the family Scorpaenidae (see rockfishrockfish,
member of the family Sebastidae (rockfishes) according some authorities, but also classified as a member of the family Scorpaenidae (scorpionfishes, lionfishes, and rockfishes) by other authorities, carnivorous fish inhabiting all seas and especially abundant in the
..... Click the link for more information. ), comprising venomous subtropical marine fish native to the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea. Native to the Indian and South Pacific oceans, the red lionfish (P. volitans) has a striking appearance and coloration, with red, cream, and brown or black bands on the body, fanlike pectoral fins, and dorsal, anal, and tail fins with dark spots on a clear background. It has venomous spines on the dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins. It grows quickly and can reach 15 in. (38 cm) and weigh up to 2.6 lb (1.2 kg) at maturity. Primarily reef dwellers, they are most active at night, hiding during the day. Popular with saltwater aquarium hobbyists, the red lionfish is now found in North American waters from North Carolina to Caribbean Sea. The devil firefish or common lionfish (P. miles), which is native to the Indian Ocean and similar to the red lionfish in appearance, also is an invasive species in the same waters. Lionfish appear to be unappetizing to native fish, and consume commercially important species as well as marine life that feed those species. Although they have a severely painful sting, they are safe to eat and are being promoted as a food fish.

Lionfish are classified in the phylum ChordataChordata
, phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief internal skeletal support at some stage of their development. Most chordates are vertebrates (animals with backbones), but the phylum also includes some small marine invertebrate animals.
..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Vertebrata, class Actinopterygii, order Scorpaeniformes, family Scorpaenidae.

lionfish

li·on·fish

lionfish

li•on•fish

lionfish

lionfish,

lionfish

Words related to lionfish

noun brightly striped fish of the tropical Pacific having elongated spiny fins

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