Dendrochirus zebra

Zebra Lionfish ( Dendrochirus zebra)

The Zebra Lionfish ( Dendrochirus zebra) is a representative of scorpionfish ( Scorpaenidae ). He lives in deep lagoons, coral and rocky reefs of the Red Sea and the tropical Indo-Pacific from South and East Africa to Australia, southern Japan, Samoa, Tonga and Lord Howe Iceland at depths of three to 60 meters. Especially frequently he should have been in the Philippines. Many populations are greatly diminished by the catcher for aquaristic purposes.

Features

The Zebra Lionfish is shown in red and white. A series of dark red, broad, vertical bands extends over the body. The pectoral fins are large and look like butterfly wings. At the root of the tail two bands are connected by a transverse band, thus resulting in an H-shaped drawing. The first dorsal fin has hartstrahlige 13 fin rays, which are provided with poison glands, the middle fin rays are higher than the body height. The second dorsal fin has ten to eleven soft rays. The anal fin has three hard - and six to seven soft rays. Here are the hard jets and the only one pelvic fins with poison glands connected. The operculum is located below a dark spot. Zebra dwarf lionfish are about 18 inches long. Males are larger than females and have a slightly larger head.

Way of life

The fish live separately, the females also in small groups. During the day, they will stay in caves or under overhangs. Some populations live associated with the vase sponge Xestospongia testudinaria. Zebra dwarf lionfish feed mainly on small crustaceans, in gastric studies were found 80 % shrimp, 10% crab and 10% isopods and only a few small fish, such as damselfish and cardinal fish. They spawn before sunrise or after sunset. The pelagic larval stages are widely drift with currents.