Venomous Invaders from the Sea!
Monster Monday
December 7, 2015
The lionfish is a beautiful, yet terrifying, coastal predator with a huge mouth, tiger-like stripes, and a mane of venomous spines. These spines can cause a painful sting in humans. Watch out the next time you go to the beach, because these monsters may be coming soon to an ocean near you!
Lionfish can grow up to about 16 inches (40 centimeters) long and are fierce predators. The lionfish usually attacks prey at dawn and dusk by flaring its pectoral fins. It gradually herds the prey into a corner and then sucks the victim into its mouth. Smaller species eat mostly small crabs and shrimps. Larger species eat mostly small fish, including the young of large species.
Lionfish are native to shallow coral reefs in the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans, including the Red Sea. There, larger species of fish prey on lionfish, braving the spines for a tasty meal. Throughout the world, lionfish are kept in saltwater aquariums because of their stunning appearance. In the 1990’s, however, some of these fish were released into the warm waters around the state of Florida. Here, large predators that might have eaten the lionfish were repelled by the fish’s venomous spines. With no natural predators, the lionfish population quickly exploded. Today, the fish is an invasive species, disrupting ecosystems all over the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic coast of the United States. Wherever they go, they destroy local populations of smaller fish and invertebrates and outcompete larger fish.
Affected communities are taking action to stem the tide of the lionfish invasion. State governments have removed many restrictions on hunting the fish. Some areas are holding lionfish hunting competitions, a practice that helps populations of native species to rebound. Restaurants in Florida and other affected regions are beginning to add the fish to their menus. Lionfish is perfectly safe to eat once the spines are removed. It can be prepared in many different ways and is said to taste delicious.
You don’t have to be a wildlife expert to help fight the lionfish invasion. Thoroughly research any pet before you purchase it and be sure you will be able to care for it throughout its life. If, for some reason, you can no longer care for a pet and cannot find anyone else to take care of it, take it to an animal shelter or a responsible pet store. Never release a pet into the wild. It will most likely be unable to adapt to the conditions and die. If it survives, however, it could create an ecological disaster!