lionfish

[lahy-uhn-fish]

noun

plural

lionfishes ,

plural

lionfish .

1. a brightly striped scorpionfish of the genus Pterois, especially P. volitans, of the Indo-Pacific region, having long, flamboyant, venomous spiny fins.

2. an Atlantic scorpionfish, Scorpaena grandicornis.

lionfish

/ ˈlaɪənˌfɪʃ /

noun

1. any of various scorpion fishes of the tropical Pacific genus Pterois, having a striped body and elongated spiny fins

Word History and Origins

Origin of lionfish¹

First recorded in 1905–10; lion + fish

Example Sentences

Higher temperatures in the Adriatic Sea are encouraging invasive species such as the poisonous lionfish, while also causing further stress on alpine glaciers that are already shrinking at record rates.

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With their distinctive spiny ruffs and zebra stripes, lionfish are among the more flamboyant of coral reef fish species.

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"In many cases, restaurants are scared to pay the divers a premium for the lionfish because they may not sell," Alex said.

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"But we could have pressure on lionfish in certain areas where it can make an ecological difference."

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Burmese pythons and lionfish are killing off native species.

Read more on Seattle Times