Pterois

Taxobox
name = "Pterois"

---

image_width = 270px
image_caption = "Pterois antennata"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Scorpaeniformes
familia = Scorpaenidae
subfamilia = Pteroinae
genus = "Pterois"
genus_authority = Oken, 1817
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
*"Pterois andover"
*"Pterois antennata"
*"Pterois cincta"
*"Pterois cristatus"
*"Pterois ellioti"
*"Pterois geniserra"
*"Pterois kodipungi"
*"Pterois lunulata"
*"Pterois mombasae"
*"Pterois muricata"
*"Pterois radiata"
*"Pterois rebel"
*"Pterois sphex"
*"Pterois vittata"
*"Pterois volitans"
*"Pterois miles"
et al.

"Pterois" is a genus of venomous marine fish found mostly in the Indo-Pacific. The fish of the genus "Pterois" has a pair of fan-shaped pectoral fins and a spiky first dorsal fin. These fins give the fish the appearance of a lion's mane, which makes "lionfish" their common name. The shape and coloring of its body provide it the ability to blend with the surroundings, which is usually called camouflage.

"Pterois" has several dorsal venomous spines; this venom is said to be painful, but the sting of a lionfish is not fatal for human beings. Both the mimicry and the venom are important defenses. When a predator identifies any "Pterois" in disguise with the habitat, the sting from its back will keep predators away for quite a long time. The body of most "Pterois" is dominated by the color maroon, or sometimes brown, with white stripes along the body and fins. "Pterois" lives in the Indian and Pacific oceans, especially in coral reefs. "Pterois" is popular as a marine aquarium fish.

"Pteropterus" has been reclassified into "Pterois".

Pictorial identification

References

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