45 centimeters (18 inches) long
Lionfish will prey on more than 100 species. One lionfish can eat 5,000 fish in a year.
They can live up to 15 years in the wild.
Lionfish reproduce at a rapid rate. A female can produce more than two million eggs per year.
Lionfish are protected by venomous spines attached to their fins.
present invasion zone
expected invasion zone
North
America
South
America
Pacific
Ocean
Atlantic
Ocean
Lionfish have invaded the East Coast, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
They are expected to continue spreading south toward Brazil.
Invasive lionfish can severely damage coral reefs.
before invasion
after invasion
Lionfish ambush prey in coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangrove swamps, and even sunken ships.
In heavily invaded regions, some native fish have been reduced by 90 percent.
Lionfish can easily eat more than 2/3 of their own body weight at one time.
