A new western atlantic size record for pterois volitans (Actinopterygii: Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) with new morphological data on head spinules

Abstract

The red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Linnaeus, 1758), native to the Pacific Ocean has been rapidly colonizing waters of subtropical and tropical western Atlantic. In a decade since its first sighting in the USA it has reached the south-eastern Brazil coast. There are numerous records reporting the sizes of this fish in its non-native area. Until recently the maximum reported total length was 450 mm. This study describes a specimen from Margarita Island (Venezuela) which was 457 mm (TL). In addition to its substantial size, the specimen presented and uncommon series of calcified bony spinules at the lacrimal, suborbital, and preopercle ridge-spine of unclear function.