By: Ali Olson
Emily Stringham
ECOSYSTEM
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Indo. Pacific.
 South Pacific
 Indian ocean
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Reefs and rocky crevices
They have now been introduced to
the southeast coast of the US,
Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. They
are not native to the Atlantic and
have become a threat to the
ecosystem.
ROLES IN ECOSYSTEM
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The diet of the lionfish includes over 40
species of fish and crustacean. This
invasive species has become a real threat
to many native reef fish communities.
They are predators that eat fish but are
not eaten by many others because of
their venomous spines.
Relatively resistant to parasites, this gives
them another advantage over other
native species in their new ecosystem.
LIFE SPAN
 Lion
fish can live up to 15 years.
 Average life span is 5-10 years.
 If kept in captivity, the lionfish can
have a life span that exceeds 15
years.
FEEDING BEHAVIOR
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Eat small fish, crabs, shrimp,
and other crustaceans.
Fairy basslet, bridle
cardnalfish, white grunt, bicolored damselfish,
yellowheaded wrasse, blue
headed wrasse, striped parrot
fish, spiny lobster, and
banded coral shrimp.
A lionfish will often spread its
feathery pectoral fins and
heard small fish into a
confined space where it can
more easily swallow them.
They always swallow their
food whole.
REPRODUCTION
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Capable of reproducing
year-round with unique
reproduction mechanisms
not commonly found in
native fishes.
Are external spawners.
Females have the
potential to reproduce
every 4 days!
Can spawn around 2
million eggs per year.
The female will release
between 2,000 and 15,000
eggs into the water to be
fertilized.
(note card)
SURVIVAL
Helpful survival skill:
 Venomous spines
Predators:
 Have very few predators in their native range,
where they occupy the upper levels of the
food chain.
 moray eels, bluespotted cornetfish, larger
groupers (tiger grouper and Nassau grouper)
and sharks are the only known predators.
Human Impact
Humans have hunted them to use as
a tasty treat for any menu.
 Humans have taken them from their
normal ecosystem and put them in
new areas.
 Divers and fisherman are supposed
to document and report any sighting
of lionfish along the
Atlantic and Gulf waters.
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UNIQUE FEATURES
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Can grow to 15 inches in length but most
are only 1 foot.
Weigh between 2-3 lbs.
18 needle-like dorsal fins-venomous spines
Carnivores
Are often used as Aquarium pets, but
need lots of space with very few other fish.
Need to feel like they have dominance in
the tank.
There are many different species of
lionfish.
UNIQUE FEATURES
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Relatives of the Lionfish belong to the
scorpion fish family, which includes some
of the most venomous fishes in the ocean.
SCIENTIFIC ARTICLE
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Biological invasion of the Indo-pacific lionfish
along the Atlantic coast of North America.
 It is amazing that the lionfish has been
able to adapt to a new habitat that is so
different from its native home.
 Things that it has had to adapt to is the
water temperatures, the reef structures,
the fish species.
 Researchers have reported that within a
short period after the lionfish was
introduced into a new area, survival of the
native reef fishes declined about 80
percent.
RECAP
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Originally from Indo. Pacific region, but now
found in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.
Is a predator.
Average of 5-10 years life span, with
exception to 15 years.
Eat small fish, crabs, shrimp, and other
crustaceans.
External spawners, who reproduce year
round.
Venomous Spines
Trying to rid the fish from its new habitat.
SOURCES
National Geographic (nationalgeographic.com)
NOAA (noaa.gov)
Oceana (oceana.org)
Reef (reef.org)
Marine Bio (marinebio.org)
New England Aquarium (neaq.org)
Science News (phschool.com/science/science
news/articles/bad_news_beauties.html.)
 A-Z Animals (a-zanimal.com/animals/lionfish)
 Google images
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