The Red Lion Fish Of Antigua (Pterois Voltians)

This months article series will discuss.. The Lesser Antilles Island Of Antigua! This island makes up the Caribbean country of Antigua & Barbuda. It is approximately 185.22 Nautical/Marine miles (213.147369 miles or 343.02744 kilometers) from Venezuela. It is also approximately 1311.36 Nautical/Marine miles (1509.086137 miles or 2428.63872 kilometers) from mainland Florida. Antigua is a part of the lesser Antilles & the Leeward islands. The etymology of the name is that Antigua means ancient in Spanish. This choice of name was most likely a remanent of the Spanish conquest of the Caribbean. Since its in the Caribbean sea, it has many nutrients & many different types of interesting species. Its nutrients & high amount of smaller organisms attracts many of these animals. One of them who is unfortunately invasive, is the Red Lion Fish. The red lion fish is frequently confused with its close relative, Pterois Miles. However the 2 are completely different species. It lives in Antigua year-round & frequently sting tourists. They are known for their lordly appearance. Their large fins that extend out often make it appear like a lion. They are in relatively high concentration around Antigua & the Caribbean, however they are native to the Indo-pacific regions. In this article we will discuss the life of the red lion fish, the mating procedures, tactics, practices, & cycles of the red lion fish, the distribution of red lion fish, the scientific detailings of the red lion fish, & what to do in the event that you are stung by a red lion fish. The Life Of The Red Lion Fish The Red lion fish has existed in the Indo-pacific for centuries, however it was first introduced to the Atlantic in the 1980s. It is not known how it was released into the ocean, but quickly the breeding population grew. The first sightings of them were off the coast of southern Florida near areas of Miami. However in the Indo-Pacific they have been featured throughout many cultures which suggests when they were discovered. The fully matured adults are approximately 16 inches (40.64 centimeters) regardless of gender. However, they may be up to 18 inches (45.72 centimeters) in size. The juveniles may be as small as 1 inch or sometimes even less. The life span of the red lion fish in the wild is unknown however in captivity it is up to 10 years regardless of gender. They are approximately 2.5 pounds (1.13398 kilograms) at their peak weight regardless of weight. Their level of intelligence is higher then most other types of fish. They are not often social & do not form emotional bonds with each other. They also do not have any form any kind of hierarchy. It is unknown how long Lion Fish as a whole have existed. They often live a life of solitude & will fiercely protect the area that they call home. They are extremely territorial in this way. They are aggressive towards other fish however they will generally stay away from humans unless they feel threatened. They generally will not interact with humans at all. They will consume any types of crustaceans & small fish. They have no preference, & will also sometimes consume creatures much larger then them. They are believed to be nocturnal hunters as they are often found with full stomachs during the day. They metabolism is normal compared to other fish. They are not cannibalistic in any form. They also have no teeth & consume their prey with one bite. They have no known natural predators which is why there are so many of them. They also seem to have been able to adjust to lower & higher salinity levels. It is classified as Least concern on the IUCN red list. These fish are frequently kept in tanks meaning that they can be distributed without cause of harm to the species as a whole. They have a distinctive brown or maroon & white stripes / bands covering their entire being. They have fleshy tentacles above their eyes & below the mouth fan like pectoral fins long separated dorsal spines 13 dorsal spines 10-11 dorsal soft rays 3 anal spines & 6-7 anal soft rays. They are extremely territorial & will murder other fish over territory. The Mating Procedures, Practices, Cycles, & Tactics Of The Red Lion Fish Lionfish are incredibly beautiful when it comes to mating. They mate via sexual reproduction. They are not monogamous & do not form social or emotional bonds. They are also not hermaphroditic. The female lion fish reach sexual maturity at 1 year of age. It is unknown when the males reach sexual maturity. The females will produce 2 egg sacks every 4 days, these egg sacks hold the unfertilized eggs. They will hold up to 15,000 eggs, however not all will be able to be fertilized. With these numbers, the female will release 2,737,500 eggs every year. These eggs will then be released during the courtship dance. The males will go around looking for a female for days on end, to intimidate rival males & attract the females they will puff up their fins. Once the female & the make decide to initiate the courtship ritual they will face each other & ascend slowly. At this point it is when the females will release her egg sacks & the male will turn upside down in order to release his sperm to the eggs. He will release approximately 10,000 to 30,000 sperm. He will then spray this sperm on the eggs. After this courtship ritual, the 2 will swim away & will most likely not see each other again. They do not care for their young at all after this point. These egg sacks will go into a gestation period for 24 to 36 hours & then hatch. After this point, they swim out into the ocean. These egg sacks are approximately 1.5 inches long & 0.7 inches in width on average. The image above depicts the egg sack of a red lion fish. These egg sacks contain a noxious chemical that the children will be soaked in once they are born. This noxious chemical makes the juveniles less likely to be eaten compared to another species that does not have the chemical. Very little is known about the larval stage of the Red Lion Fish. They do not appear to have a specific mating season, instead they mate year round regardless of climate. The Distribution Of The Red Lion Fish The Red lion fish is native to the Indo-Pacific. However, they were released into the Atlantic Ocean in the 1980’s & have grown to have a large population throughout the Caribbean. There is evidence suggesting that lion fish have become more tolerant to lower salinity levels. This evidence was provided in a thesis by Aaron Hasenei. This is a reason as to how they have been able to permanently establish themselves in the Atlantic ocean rather then the pacific. They are found as southern as central Brazil & as northern as the state of North Carolina. They are not found west of the panama canal. The Scientific Detailings Of The Red Lion Fish The Bone structure of a lion fish is incredibly interesting due to its very strange spines that stick out. These spines are incredibly boney & are often 2-4 inches. They stick out in a strange way that make it appear almost similar to a lions main, which is most likely how it got its name. There are no known differences between bone structure in the males & the females. They do not have very much cartilage or muscle, which makes their main bones appear to pop out. It is not exactly known how the female releases the egg sack, or where she releases the egg sack from. The lion fish has a very strange way of hunting. You see, during an experiment it was found that they often preferred prey that were faster then themselves. Strangely, they also were found to be more successful at catching these prey. In this experiment which was conducted by Ashley N. Peterson & Matthew J. Mchenry, a Pterois Voltians (Red Lion Fish) was made to hunt a Chromis Viridis (Green Chromis). Even though the Red lion fish was half as fast as the Green Chromis, it showed a 61% rate of success in catching the fish. It was also discovered during this experiment that they use a persistent predation strategy to catch their prey. Their teeth are incredibly small & are on the upper & lower jaw. They have an alleviated appetite however they do not have an alleviated metabolism. This may be their reason for expanding their range of living. They also consume as much as 50% more in the summer months then in the winter. Their phylum is Chordata meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either In adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal Slits, & a post-anal tail. Their class is Actinopterygii, this means that they are ray-finned fish. This also means that their actinopterygian fin rays attach directly to the proximal or basal skeletal elements. Their order is Scorpaeinformes. This is an order of ray skinned fish such as lion fish & sculpins. It is one of the largest orders of ray skinned fish as it has 1,320 species currently categorized under it. Their family is Scorpaenidae. This a family that holds most of the worlds venomous marine fish. Species under this family are mostly found in the Indo-pacific. The etymology of their name is that it comes from the word scorpionfish. The reason for that is because most animals under this family sting with venomous mucus. Their genus is Pterois. This genus is a genus of venomous marine fish. All species of lionfish are categorized under this genus. One of the main characteristics of this genus is that, most of the fish are coloured a bright bold red. This red signals that the fish is venomous. Their binomial name is known as, Pterois Voltians. What To Do If You Are Stung By A Red Lion Fish Lion fish do not sting unless they believe that you are a threat. In the event that you are stung on Antigua by a Red Lion Fish here are some steps you may take to minimize damage. Step 1. Get Out Of The Body Of Water. Immediately exit the water if you realize that you have been stung. This is crucial to make sure that you can receive proper medical attention. Step 2. Remove Pieces Of The Spine From Your Leg. Most likely there will be pieces of the lion fish still stuck in your leg. Do not attempt to do this with bare hands. Use tweezers & gloves in order to remove them in order to prevent further damage. If you do not have gloves, use a strong barrier that will insure that your hands will not touch the spine. Step 3. Wash The Area With Freshwater & Soap. This step is to make sure that any other foreign objects are removed. Do not use alcohol. If you have it, use antiseptic towelettes as well. Step 4. Control Any Bleeding That May Be Happening. The site that was stung may be bleeding. Using a clean towel or cloth, apply pressure to the site that was stung. This will cause clotting of the blood which will stop the blood loss. Do this for as long as necessary. Step 5. Apply Heat In Order To Break The Venom Down. Use a heating pad in order to apply heat to the wound. This will both break the venom down & reduce swelling. Always bring a reusable heating pad if you are in an area with lion fish as a sting is always possible. If you cannot get a heating pad put hot water in a thermos. If you are using hot water, make sure that the water is below 120° degrees Fahrenheit (48.8889 Celsius). Keep the heating pad on for at least 2 hours. Step 6. Take Pain Medication If Available. Lion fish stings will hurt for many hours after the initial wound. To combat the pain over the counter painkillers are recommended. An example of this is ibuprofen or Tylenol. Step 7. Apply Tropical Antibiotic Cream. Apply cream to the wounded site, then wrap the site in bandages. If swelling appears do not apply ice as it will intensify the pain. Step 8. Seek Medical Attention From A Doctor. Sometimes, a doctor is not needed for a lion fish sting. However you should seek medical attention to make sure that there are not complications. Infections are also possible so having a follow up check up on the wound is extremely encouraged. Directories / Credits https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/lionfish-facts.html https://www.localdivethailand.com/rare-finds/lionfish-a-smart-fish/ https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/aquatic/fish-and-other-vertebrates/lionfish https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1498&context=occ_stuetd https://lionfish-hunting.com/lionfish-reproduction/ https://seaofchange.com/creature-feature-red-lionfish/ https://www.healthline.com/health/lionfish-sting#treatment https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32729212/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31534410/ https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2022.1085 https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/222/19/jeb214122/223524/Invasive-lionfish-have-turbocharged-digestive Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors Our Loyal Patrons Ms. Ochoa ReplyForward