Fish of The Week

Last Update : Saturday 1 September, 2001 11:06 PM

Illust : Anuwat Saisaeng

Lion fish

Scientific name

Pterois volitans

Common name

Lion fish

Size

40 centimeters

Dispersion

Andaman Sea. Found some in the Gulf of Thailand

Area found

Demersal fish. Mainly found at the wrecks, artificial coral, wharf

Depth

2 – 40 meters

Feed on

Animals. Crab is a favorite food.

Situation

Noticeably less than in the past. But can still be found

Conservation

Often caught in the aquarium because of its beauty. No detail study has been conducted.

Fish Tip

Like to live in a group. Some times floating in a group of 4 or 5, especially, near the large gorgonian.

          Lionfish. Anyone should know this name, right? Talaythai fans also know that he is poisonous, although different from pufferfish, though. Pufferfish poison is in its meat. You have to eat it to be poisoned. But lionfish poison is at the fin stem. It will be painful after a prick. So, I would like to explain in further details.

          Lionfish is in Family Scorpaenidae . This Family is divided into 2 groups that are lionfish and stonefish (Scorpaeninae). All of them are poisonous. Their poison is at the skin around the hard stem of the fins like pectoral fin, dorsal fin. The poison is only used as self-protection, not to hunt for food. Some type like stonefish may have poison gland at the base of fin stem, making the poison more vigorous. It is believed that lionfish is less poisonous than Stonefish. I have never been pricked by both. So, it is difficult to tell.

          When danger approach, lionfish and Stonefish would spread the fin as threatening. But they do not normally swim out to charge or pierce anyone with fins. I have only met that situation once. May be it was because he was guarding the domain in preparation for mating. It was not so fearful. The problem is that some people like to touch this and that without noticing the fish being camouflaged with the environs. Some of them are lying still. If we touch them we are likely to be poisoned, naturally.

          The probability to be poisoned to death is very slim. Mainly, it would be a pang before the pain increase. If you are pierced, it is recommended that you come up from the water as soon as you possibly can. Clean the wound and fight the pain with heat. The poison of this kind of fish is protein base and will fade away when heated. You can use hair dryer, warm water, or compress massage by rock wrapped with cloth or any hot objects. Make sure the heat is as high as you can stand. Local villagers use toasting or grilling method. Normally, it aches for about 24 hours and calms down.

          The lionfish you see in the drawing can be found very often in the Andaman, almost at every reef. In the Gulf of Thailand, there is some, not very much, such as at Ngam Island, at the wrecks. They are found in a group where water reasonably flows. Some time they are found alone swimming in the reef, with whatever dark or light color. But they are the same kind of fish.

          Interestingly enough, I found him lying still on the floor. Those would be large with dark color looking so old, near death. I have never seen them drop dead in front of my own eyes. But I have met one lying very still indeed. No matter how many photographs I took, he did not make a move. He must have been next to being passed away.

          People are afraid of lionfish and yet would like to keep them in the aquarium. In the past, I certainly met more lionfish. But now, many places that I have met them like Samui, Tan Island, Phuket almost has none left to be seen. Places that plenty used to be found have less. Anyone who would like to help lionfish can easily do so by not keeping them.

          Please do not forget. Lionfish or any poisonous, dangerous animals in the sea have never thought of doing man any harm. They merely protect themselves. If we understand them, looking at them from a distance, not teasing them or chasing them away for fear, they would not do us any harm. Both parties can be happy. That is the best.

Lion fish



Scientific name	Pterois volitans
Common name	Lion fish
Size	40 centimeters
Dispersion	Andaman Sea. Found some in the Gulf of Thailand
Area found	Demersal fish. Mainly found at the wrecks, artificial coral, wharf
Depth	2 – 40 meters
Feed on	Animals. Crab is a favorite food.
Situation	Noticeably less than in the past. But can still be found
Conservation	Often caught in the aquarium because of its beauty. No detail study has been conducted.
Fish Tip	Like to live in a group. Some times floating in a group of 4 or 5, especially, near the large gorgonian.

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