Food

The Lionfish (Pterois miles) is found on the reef flats, in estuaries and lagoons, from a few meters below the surface to 55 meters below the surface. By day, it stays on the walls and ceilings of overhangs, in the shade, or in wrecks. At night, it hunts fish and crustaceans by folding them into a corner with its long winglike pectorals. When the prey is trapped and within reach, it opens its huge mouth with a sharp jerk, which dislodges to swallow it. Sometimes, flying scorpion fish group together in front of a crevice. One of them enters it and chases the small fish out of the hole. These are then caught by other scorpion fish.

Breeding

Mating takes place at night in open water. The male is surrounded by around ten females. The species is oviparous. A female can lay several thousand eggs which agglomerate into a mucus mass which later dissolves to become larvae. The juveniles are pelagic like plankton. This species is spread over large geographical areas.

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