Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Lion Fish

Pretty much everything about the venomous lionfish its red and white zebra stripes, long, showy pectoral fins, and generally cantankerous demeanor says: Don't touch!
                              
The venom of the lionfish, delivered via an array of up to 18 needle-like dorsal fins, is purely defensive. It relies on camouflage and lightning-fast reflexes to capture prey, mainly fish and shrimp. A sting from a lionfish is extremely painful to humans and can cause nausea and breathing difficulties, but is rarely fatal. Lionfish, also called turkey fish, dragon fish and scorpion fish, are native to the reefs and rocky crevices of the Indo-Pacific, although they've found their way to warm ocean habitats worldwide. The largest of lionfish can grow to about 15 inches (0.4 meters) in length, but the average is closer to 1 foot (0.3 meters). Lionfish are popular in some parts of the world as food, but are far more prized in the aquarium trade. Their population numbers are healthy and their distribution is growing, causing some concerned in the United States, where some feel the success of this non-indigenous species presents human and environmental dangers. This fish are slow-moving and conspicuous, so they must rely on their unusual coloration and fins to discourage their predators from eating them. Lionfish are now one of the top predators in many coral reef environments of the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Lionfish consume over 50 species of fish including some economically and ecologically important species.They are active hunters who ambush their prey by using their outstretched, fan-like pectoral fins to slowly pursue and "corner" them.




                                                        ENTERING IN MEXICO

After passing through the Atlantic and the Caribbean, especially the Mesoamerican reef, the first specimen of this species was observed in Mexico in 2009, on the island of Cozumel, southeast of the country, in the state of Quintana Roo. One of the main proposals to mitigate the negative impacts of this species is consuming it as a premium product because their meat is 100% free of toxin and is rich in protein. By eating lionfish, you contribute to  the conservation of marine resources.
Phantom Divers filmed a video showing a very simple way to build a lionfish container. It is in spanish, but we would like to share it with you! We hope you like it!







                                                               
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