Volitans/Red Lionfish Pterois volitans

Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Black Lionfish
The Volitans Lionfish is also called the Red Lionfish which is confusing since most Lionfish are red and white striped and, moreover, the Volitans has brown and even black (above left) variants. It has a squashed, bulldog-like face and looks grumpy. Its pectoral fin rays are shaped like blades rather than the extended white wires of the Spotfin/Raggedfin Lionfish.
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
One of several venomous lionfish species, it is native to tropical lagoons and reefs in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
One of the largest lionfish, it can grow to over 40cm long.
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
It is also an invasive species in the western Atlantic and Caribbean, where it is exacerbating a decline in native fish stocks, both of competing predators (groupers, snappers) and of smaller prey. It has few predators to control its own population growth outside of its native range.
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
It looks identical to the Common Lionfish, also called the Devil Firefish, Pterois miles, which also can be red, brown or grey; they say individual fish of one species can look more different than between the two species.
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
Volitans Red Lionfish
Its spines are highly venomous to predators and humans.
Volitans Red Lionfish Spotless rear fins.
Volitans Red Lionfish Grumpy.
Volitans Red Lionfish Juveniles (and some adults) have antennae.