Volitan LionFish

The Volitan Lionfish is a dazzling underwater predator that looks like it swam straight out of a fantasy novel! With its flowing, feathery fins and bold stripes of red, white, and brown, this fish is both beautiful and intimidating. It has long, venomous spines that fan out like a lion’s mane—hence the name—and serve as a warning to would-be predators. Growing up to 15 inches long, the Volitan Lionfish moves with slow, graceful motions, almost like it’s dancing through the water.

These stunning fish are native to the warm, tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, including coral reefs and lagoons. They prefer shallow reefs with lots of hiding spots where they can lurk during the day and hunt at night. Unfortunately, Volitan Lionfish have also become an invasive species in parts of the Atlantic and Caribbean, where they’ve spread rapidly and disrupted local marine life. In these new environments, they have few natural predators and plenty of food, which has allowed their numbers to grow fast.

Volitan Lionfish are skilled ambush hunters, using their large fins to herd small fish and crustaceans before quickly striking with their lightning-fast jaws. They can eat a wide variety of prey, which is part of the reason they’ve become so successful in non-native waters. While their spines are venomous and can deliver a painful sting to humans, they’re not aggressive unless provoked. In aquariums and zoos, they’re a favorite with guests thanks to their dramatic appearance and fascinating hunting style—just don’t touch those spines!

Volitan LionFish

SPONSORSHIP

CHOOSE A PLAN

Diamond

Platinum

Gold