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Albins MA, Lyons PJ
Invasive red lionfish Pterois volitans blow directed jets of water at prey fish
Red lionfish Pterois volitans from the Pacific Ocean have spread across much of the Western Atlantic since the mid 1980s. Lionfish consume large numbers of small native fishes, including ecologically and economically important species. Albins and Lyons describe a predatory behavior which may be unique to lionfish: blowing jets of water at prey fish to confuse or distract them. This often results in prey fish facing the attacking lionfish, increasing the probability of headfirst capture and swallowing. Native prey may be evolutionarily naïve to this predation strategy and a resulting lack of effective defensive responses could be a factor in the success of invasive lionfish.
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