User:Hwttdz/Paracentropogon

Paracentropogon
Paracentropogon antennata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Scorpaenidae
Subfamily:	Pteroinae
Genus:	Paracentropogon Oken, 1817
Species
Paracentropogon rubripinnis

Paracentropogon is a genus of venomous marine fish found mostly in the Indo-Pacific. The fish of the genus Paracentropogon 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.

Paracentropogon 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 Paracentropogon in disguise with the habitat, the sting from its back will keep predators away for quite a long time. The body of most Paracentropogon is dominated by the color maroon, or sometimes brown, with white stripes along the body and fins. Paracentropogon lives in the Indian and Pacific oceans, especially in coral reefs. Paracentropogon is popular as a marine aquarium fish.

Pteropterus has been reclassified into Paracentropogon.

Pictorial identification

• 
  Clearfin lionfish (Paracentropogon radiata)
• Volitan Lionfish (Paracentropogon volitans)
  Volitan Lionfish (Paracentropogon volitans)
• Devil firefish or common lionfish (Paracentropogon miles)
  Devil firefish or common lionfish (Paracentropogon miles)

References

• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Paracentropogon". FishBase. Mar 2007 version.
• Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Pteropterus". FishBase. Mar 2007 version.

Category:Scorpaenidae Category:Venomous fish