red lionfish
Pterois volitans
Exotic reef fish in the Atlantic, where it was introduced, with venomous spines that call for care when handling. It is native to the Pacific and the eastern Indian Ocean.
Also called: peixe-leão, pez león, red lionfish
- maximum
- 46 cm
- record/max.
- 1.4 kg
- depth
- 2–55 m
who is the red lionfish
The lionfish belongs to the family Scorpaenidae, with a spindle-shaped body, very wide pectoral fins and large tentacles above the eyes. It reaches 45.7 cm and up to 1.4 kg. It is native to the Pacific and the eastern Indian Ocean, but was introduced into the western Atlantic, including Brazil, where it is exotic. It lives in lagoons and reefs, from murky areas near the coast down to 50 m deep. By day it hides and barely moves, and at night it hunts small fish, shrimp and crabs, cornering prey with its pectoral fins. The dorsal fin spines are venomous. It is commercially fished and sold for aquariums.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the red lionfish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Juveniles are pelagic and travel long distances, which explains the wide distribution of the species.
identification
Spindle-shaped body with very wide pectoral fins, used to corner prey. It has large tentacles above the eyes and venomous spines on the dorsal fin. Its color varies with the environment: it is generally darker near the coast and nearly black in estuaries. The devil firefish (Pterois miles) is very similar and has many fine dark bands on the body and head.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America it has been introduced to the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil, where it is exotic.
Habitat: Lagoons and reefs, from murky areas near the coast down to 50 m deep.
coast
when to fish
best time of day
Nighttime. It hides and barely moves by day, and hunts at night.
rules for the red lionfish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
The dorsal fin spines are venomous: hold the fish with a thick cloth or pliers, never with a bare hand. If stung, seek medical care. Treatment uses heat and corticosteroids, applied by professionals.
in the kitchen
It is a popular table fish, but care is needed with the venomous spines when cleaning it.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00692, b = 3.1; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Pterois volitans (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Pterois volitansNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
