![]() ![]() Lionfish now outnumber native fish across many sites, and in parts of the western Atlantic are over four times as abundant as they are in their native area. Shutterstock/Richard Whitcombeįor example, the first lionfish were reported near Florida in 1985 but by 2001 they had become established across the eastern seaboard of the USA, with densities of more than 100 fish per hectare. So, how has the lionfish gradually become responsible for creating havoc across the oceans?īig fish, little fish. In their natural habitat, lionfish are part of a marine ecosystem that has evolved to interact in harmony, with each species playing a vital role. This results in few natural predators, with the exception of moray eels and sharks. ![]() These spines are striped, brown and white, providing a warning colouration to indicate that they are highly venomous, even to humans. ![]() The most noticeable feature of the lionfish is the line of spines that runs along the length of its body, with more fanning out from the fins. Here it feeds on a huge variety of prey including smaller fish, molluscs and invertebrates, sometimes blowing water to disorient its prey before consuming them. The lionfish hails from the warm, marine waters of the South Pacific and Indian oceans. But it is quickly causing devastation and destruction to the nature it inhabits, decimating biodiversity in the marine environment. The lionfish is a stunning, mesmerising and highly adorned creature that drifts slowly through coral reefs, seemingly unaware of its natural beauty. ![]()
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