Lionfish Invasion in the Caribbean Quick Facts

Invasion History

Two visually identical species were introduced into the Atlantic via the US Aquarium trade beginning in the 1980’s
Current invaded range extends from North Carolina to South America including the Gulf of Mexico
Lionfish have established throughout most the Caribbean in less than 3 years
(first reports were outside of Bahamas in 2007)

Biology

Lionfish may live longer than 15 years, reaching sizes exceeding 47 cm (~20 inches)
Lionfish inhabit all marine habitat types and depths (shoreline to over 600 ft depth)
Lionfish posses venomous spines capable of deterring predators and inflicting serious stings and reactions in humans
Lionfish become sexually mature in less than 1 year and spawn in pairs
Female Lionfish produce 30,000 eggs per spawning event and are capable of spawning every 4 days, year round
(this rate equates to 2 million eggs/year/adult female)
Lionfish eggs are held together in a gelatinous mass and are dispersed at the ocean’s surface by currents
(The mucus which holds the egg mass together are distasteful to all other fish. Larval duration is 26 days)