Pterois lunulata, Luna lion fish : fisheries, aquarium

Pterois lunulata Temminck & Schlegel, 1843

Luna lion fish
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Pterois lunulata   AquaMaps   Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Image of Pterois lunulata (Luna lion fish)
Pterois lunulata
Picture by Shao, K.T.

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa

Teleostei (teleosts) > Perciformes/Scorpaenoidei (Scorpionfishes) > Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes or rockfishes) > Pteroinae
Etymology: Pterois: Greek, pteron = wing, fin (Ref. 45335).
More on authors: Temminck & Schlegel.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 132 - 172 m (Ref. 95664). Tropical

Distribution Territories | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Point map | Introductions | Faunafri

Indo-Pacific: Mauritius (Ref. 5503) then from southern Japan southwards.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 48635); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9137)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Has 13 pectoral rays and maybe confused with P. russellii. Median fish are almost clear, but become spotted in large adults. It is best identified by the pale-centered scales on the principal dark bands on the body forming a net-like pattern and V-like markings across the pectoral fin rays (Ref. 48635).
Body shape (shape guide): fusiform / normal.

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

On rocky substrates in subtropical waters. Usually found on open substrates with remote outcrops of reef or soft-bottom substrates at moderate depths (Ref. 48635). Feeds on fish and crustaceans. Spines are venomous.

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Masuda, H. and G.R. Allen, 1993. Meeresfische der Welt - Groß-Indopazifische Region. Tetra Verlag, Herrenteich, Melle. 528 p. (Ref. 9137)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)

  Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 04 February 2009

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

  Venomous (Ref. 559)





Human uses

Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: public aquariums
FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Internet sources

AFORO (otoliths) | Aquatic Commons | BHL | Cloffa | Websites from users | Check FishWatcher | CISTI | Catalog of Fishes: genus, species | DiscoverLife | ECOTOX | FAO - Publication: search | Faunafri | Fishipedia | Fishtrace | GloBI | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | IGFA World Record | National databases | OneZoom | Open Tree of Life | Otolith Atlas of Taiwan Fishes | Public aquariums | PubMed | Reef Life Survey | Socotra Atlas | TreeBase | Tree of Life | Wikipedia: Go, Search |