Lionfish

Whale, hello there!

Pretty much everything about the venomous Lionfish says, "Don't touch!” — from its red-and-white zebra stripes, long, showy pectoral fins, and generally cantankerous demeanor.

The venom of the red Lionfish, delivered via an array of up to 18 needle-like dorsal fins, is purely defensive. It relies on camouflage and lightning-fast reflexes to capture prey, mainly fish and shrimp. A sting from a Lionfish is extremely painful to humans and can cause nausea and breathing difficulties, but is rarely fatal.

Lionfish are native to the reefs of the Indo-Pacific but can be found in warm ocean habitats worldwide. The largest of Lionfish can grow to about 15 inches in length, but the average is closer to 1 foot. Lionfish are popular in some parts of the world as food, but are far more prized in the aquarium trade. 

Just remember to be careful!

N&W 🐋