So what is a Lionfish?

A Lionfish is a saltwater fish that is native to the South Pacific and Indian Oceans.  It is a distinctly colored fish with reddish brown or brown stripes, and fleshy tentacles near its face.  they have a series of spines on the dorsal, pelvic and anal fins.  These are the spines that are poisonous.  Although not fatal, the poison can be very painful for several hours to several days.  They have few predators in their native waters, and fewer still in the Atlantic Ocean.

I have seen Caribbean Reef Sharks, Green Eels, and spotted Moray eels eat Lionfish, but only if fed to them.  But more about that at another time.

I found a particularly interesting paragraph regarding these invaders at the NOAA site. NOAA

"Lionfish also are believed to pose particular risks to the local environment. They are hungry predators that feed on practically anything that swims. They can easily devour the young of important commercial fish species, such as snapper, grouper and sea bass, many of which use the region's "live bottom" reefs as nursery grounds. Lionfish are ambush predators and may use their outstretched, fan-like pectoral fins to "corner" their prey. They don't sting their prey, though. Their venomous spines are used mostly for defense. Scientists are concerned that lionfish could seriously reduce the numbers of prey species and/or compete with other reef predators. When a new species is introduced in an area, it can take over the niche, or role, of a native species in its ecosystem, thus squeezing it out--this process is called competition. Another important factor is that native prey species lack of experience in confronting the intimidating lionfish might make the lionfish a more effective predator."

Because the lIonfish has not grown up in the Atlantic reef habitat, the other fish don't know the lionfish, and don't know how to handle them.  Part of the reason the eels and sharks were given the lionfish to eat is that it is hoped that they will learn to like the taste of the fish, and eventually will hunt them.