No. 291 - Lionfish

My son asked me to read him One Less Fish by Kim Michelle Toft and Allan Sheather before bed. He got it from the school library. Near the end we read together:

One lonely lionfish
left to be the hero.
No fish left to save-
now there are...
zero.

I learned that a lionfish is a venomous marine fish also known as the scorpion fish, dragon fish and turkey fish. They are notable for their extremely long and separated spines, and have a generally striped appearance.

The lionfish’s native habitat is the rocky crevices and reefs of the Indian Pacific region, although these days they can be found in the eastern coast of America too. It is not clear how they have found their way there, but according to some speculation it is thought that perhaps some specimens that were released by some aquariums have begun to propagate themselves in these warm waters.

A person punctured by one of the sharp spines will immediately feel strong pain. Rapid swelling of the affected body area develops along with the possibility of making movement of limbs very difficult. Lionfish stings can cause nausea, breathing difficulties, paralysis, convulsions and collapse. Even death may occur in exceptional circumstances. Most people survive in spite of the great pain.