lionfish

lionfish
/luy"euhn fish'/, n., pl. lionfishes, (esp. collectively) lionfish.
1. a brightly striped scorpionfish of the genus Pterois, esp. P. volitans, of the Indo-Pacific region, having long, flamboyant, venomous spiny fins.
2. an Atlantic scorpionfish, Scorpaena grandicornis.
[1905-10 LION + FISH]

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Any of several species of showy Indo-Pacific fish of the scorpion-fish family (Scorpaenidae), noted for their venomous fin spines, which can inflict painful, though rarely fatal, puncture wounds.

Lionfish have enlarged pectoral fins and elongated dorsal fin spines, and each species bears a particular pattern of bold stripes. When disturbed, the fish spread and display their fins, and, if further pressed, present and attack with the dorsal spines. Pterois volitans, sometimes kept by fish fanciers, is striped with red, brown, and white and grows to about 12 in. (30 cm) long. Several smaller Indo-Pacific species of the genus Dendrochirus are also known as lionfish.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lionfish — A Lionfish is any of several species of venomous marine fish in the genera Pterois , Parapterois , Brachypterois , Ebosia or Dendrochirus , of the family Scorpaenidae. The lionfish is also known as the Turkey Fish, Dragon Fish or Scorpion Fish. [ …   Wikipedia

  • lionfish — /ˈlaɪənfɪʃ/ (say luyuhnfish) noun (plural lionfish or lionfishes) any of several brilliantly striped scorpaenid fishes of the tropical Pacific, of the genus Pterois, with large, elongated fins and poisonous dorsal spines. Usage: For variation in… …  

  • lionfish — noun brightly striped fish of the tropical Pacific having elongated spiny fins • Hypernyms: ↑scorpaenid, ↑scorpaenid fish • Member Holonyms: ↑Pterois, ↑genus Pterois * * * /luy euhn fish /, n., pl. lionfishes, (esp. collectively) lionfish …   Useful english dictionary

  • lionfish — noun Date: circa 1907 any of several scorpaenid fishes (genus Pterois) of the Indian Ocean and the tropical Pacific that are brilliantly striped and barred with elongated fins and venomous dorsal spines …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • lionfish — noun Any of the venomous fish of the Pterois or Scorpaenidae. family, notable for their long and separated spines …   Wiktionary

  • lionfish — li•on•fish [[t]ˈlaɪ ənˌfɪʃ[/t]] n. pl. fish•es, (esp. collectively) fish. ich any of several long finned, brightly striped scorpionfishes, esp. of the genus Pterois[/ex] • Etymology: 1905–10 …   From formal English to slang

  • USS Lionfish (SS-298) — USS Lionfish (SS 298), a Balao class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy named for the lionfish, a scorpaenoid fish found in the West Indies and the tropical Pacific. Lionfish was laid down on 15 December 1942; launched on 7… …   Wikipedia

  • Red lionfish — Taxobox name = Red lionfish image width = 225px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Scorpaeniformes familia = Scorpaenidae subfamilia = Pteroinae genus = Pterois species = P. volitans binomial = Pterois volitans… …   Wikipedia

  • Clearfin lionfish — Taxobox name = Clearfin lionfish image width = 200px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Actinopterygii ordo = Scorpaeniformes familia = Scorpaenidae genus = Pterois species = P. radiata binomial = Pterois radiata binomial authority =… …   Wikipedia

  • dwarf lionfish — zebrinė kalakutžuvė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Dendrochirus zebra angl. butterfly fish; dwarf lionfish; zebra butterfly cod; zebra firefish; zebra turkey fish rus. дендрохир зебра ryšiai:… …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

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