Reef Aquarium Fishes by Scott W. Michael

The ocelli on the soft portion of the dorsal fin may serve a communicative function.

The color of the ocelli on the soft portion of the dorsal fin can lighten and may indicate an individuals social status or state of excitability.

When it is about one-half a body length away from its prey, it lunges forward with amazing speed to ingest it. It often stalks its quarry by slinking along the bottom or around reef structure like a cat, and moves forward, either by 'hopping' on its pelvic fins or by undulating its caudal fin. Thaler (2004) has suggested that the fleshy barbels that extend from the upper jaw may act to attract fish into striking distance. This behavior may serve to distract, or possibly attract, the prey item. It will snap its dorsal spines and shake its head from side-to-side as it approaches its prey. It exhibits an unusual behavior when it feeds. Michaelĭendrochirus biocellatus is thought to feed mostly on crustaceans, although food habit data is lacking for this species. They may serve to obliterate the head shape so it is more difficult for a prey species to recognize the lionfish as a threat or may even serve a luring function. The long filaments on the upper jaw of this fish are responsible for one of its common names - Fu Manchu lionfish. the pectoral fin rays do not reach the base of the caudal fin, they are branched and are connected by a membrane over much of their length. Members of these two genera are easily separated by the form of their pectoral fins. The two genera that you most often see in the aquarium trade belong to the genera Dendrochirus and Pterois. There are six genera in this subfamily and approximately 22 species.

Lionfishes are members of the family Scorpaenidae (scorpionfishes) and the subfamily Pteroinae. In this article, I would like to share some of my musings, and the observations of others, on this unusual scorpaenid. biocellatus apart from all of its relatives. The two barbels on the upper jaw and pair of ocelli on the soft dorsal fin set D. This member of the subfamily, which is referred to commonly as the twinspot, ocellated or Fu Manchu lionfish, is a unique species that is less frequently seen in aquarium stores than many of its kin. Of these, my favorite is still Dendrochirus biocellatus. I have been fortunate enough to keep all the species available in the trade. In fact, these fishes were partially responsible for baptism into the marine aquarium hobby over 30 years ago. The large pectoral fins block the prey's view of the caudal fin, enabling the lionfish to propel itself forward in a more stealthy fashion. A twinspot lionfish slowly moves around a coral colony as it hunts for food at night.

Reef Aquarium Fishes by Scott W. Michael