Red Lionfish
Mark Ransom posted a photo:
The red lionfish is a venomous, coral reef fish natively found in the Indo-Pacific region. Red lionfish are clad in white stripes alternated with red/maroon/brown stripes. Adults in this species can grow as large as 47cm in length, while juveniles are typically shorter than 1 inch. The average red lionfish lives for around 10 years. It has large venomous spines that protrude from the body, similar to a mane, giving it the common name of the lionfish. The venomous spines make the fish inedible or deter most potential predators. Lionfish reproduce monthly and are able to quickly disperse during their larval stage for expansion of their invasive region. There are no definitive predators of the lionfish, and many organizations are promoting the harvest and consumption of lionfish in efforts to prevent further increases in the already high population densities.
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