Keys lionfish sightings finally verified after the capture of St. Croix specimen

By on Jan 30, 2009

lionprofile10

lionprofile10

After many unconfirmed sightings in the Caribbean last June, this past November a live volitan lionfish, Pterois volitans, was captured off the southwest coast of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands . The spread of lionfish has been felt up and down the east coast of North America. The alarm with the lionfish is that this predatory animal consumes anything and everything that will fit in it’s mouth and due to it’s venomous nature there are few predators interested in making a meal out of the invader.  Since it’s arrival in the early 2000’s, juveniles of naturally occuring species have become increasingly scarce. If the lionfish continues to spread in the Caribbean, royal grammas, pigmy angels and many other popular Atlantic fish may become a lot harder to find. For further information hit the read link.

Read

Posted in Reef News |
Search More:  
 

Related posts:

  1. Over 500 invasive lionfish harvested in inaugural Florida Keys Lionfish Tournament
  2. Lionfish Hunters assure us that lionfish tastes just like chicken
  3. New strategy for invasive lionfish: if you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em
  4. Invasive lionfish now being colleced from the Caribbean and offered for sale to the aquarium trade
  5. Sharks Taught to Hunt Alien Lionfish
  6. Florida declares war on invasive lionfish
  7. Ferocious Fish Found Off Miami Coast
 
  • http://esopp.us Richie Vos

    I can truthfully say I would have no problem spearfishing for one of these guys. It sad how such a cool animal can be such a nuisance.

  • http://esopp.us Richie Vos

    I can truthfully say I would have no problem spearfishing for one of these guys. It sad how such a cool animal can be such a nuisance.

  • http://esopp.us Richie Vos

    I can truthfully say I would have no problem spearfishing for one of these guys. It sad how such a cool animal can be such a nuisance.

  • Pingback: Lionfish Hunters assure us that lionfish tastes just like chicken | Reef Builders

  • http://Seafavorites.com Joe Richard

    Any way I can use that photo of the lionfish for an education article, so people can start culling these fish from Atlantic reefs? Who is the photographer?

  • http://Seafavorites.com Joe Richard

    Any way I can use that photo of the lionfish for an education article, so people can start culling these fish from Atlantic reefs? Who is the photographer?

  • http://Seafavorites.com Joe Richard

    Any way I can use that photo of the lionfish for an education article, so people can start culling these fish from Atlantic reefs? Who is the photographer?

  • elizabeth nelson

    hi, I’m an artist. can I use this photo as a painting reference?

  • elizabeth nelson

    hi, I am an artist. can I use this lion fish photo as a reference?