Pterois

Pterois
Pterois antennata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Scorpaenidae
Genus:	Pterois
Species
Pterois antennaria Pterois cincta Pterois cristatus Pterois ellioti Pterois geniserra Pterois kodipungi Pterois muricata Pterois radiata Pterois rebel Pterois russelii Pterois sphex Pterois zebra Pterois vittata Pterois volitans 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 spiky firstdorsal fin. These fins give them the image of lion mane, which makes lionfish as their common name. The shape and coloring of it's body provide them the ability to blend with the surroundings, which usually called mimicry. Scorpionfish is also given as the common name of Pterois, as it's spines are venomous. This venom is said to be painful, but the sting of a lionfish is not fatal for human being. Both the ability of mimicry and the venom give it a pack of body defense. When a predator identify any Pterois in disguise with the habitat, the sting from it's 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 (usually) white stripes along the body and fins. Pterois lives is coral reefs, especially in tropical shores. The Pterois is popular as table fish, and also a great pick as marine aquarium filler.

References

• Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). Species of Pterois in FishBase. June 2006 version.

External links

• Pterois on Fish Base