Zebra Lionfish

Dendrochirus zebra

Zebra Lionfish

Dendrochirus zebra

Other Common Names
Dwarf Lionfish, Zebra Turkeyfish

Connected Coasts

Other Common Names

Dwarf Lionfish, Zebra Turkeyfish

At the Aquarium

Connected Coasts

Appearance

The zebra lionfish is distinguished by large fan-like pectoral fins. Their bodies have distinct white bars that contrast with their dark brown to reddish-brown coloring.

Venomous rays on the dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins act as a defense against predators and help them compete for mates.

Female zebra lionfish are smaller and develop an almost white face when in courtship.

Habitat

Coral reefs and stony shallow areas near coral reefs, as well as sheltered lagoons and caves. Found at depths between 3-60 m.

Diet

Crabs, shrimps, and juvenile fish

Life History

After courtship, a gelatinous mass of 2,000-15,000 eggs is left by the female and fertilized by the male. The eggs drift in the current and hatch after approximately 36 hours. The larvae settle out of the water column after a few weeks at a size of 10-12 mm. Juveniles then grow into adult zebra lionfish.

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Since zebra lionfish are predators, they represent the final link of the food chain in coral reefs and have an impact on the density and well being of other species in the ecosystem.

Zebra lionfish are edible but not commonly eaten, serving minor use in commercial fisheries.

Tropical and subtropical zones from South Africa, Madagascar, Red Sea, India, and Sri Lanka in the west to the Philippines, Palau, Guam, Fiji, and Samoa islands in the east. Zebra lionfish are also common in the coastal zones of Australia and southern Japan.

This animal is not native to the Oregon Coast, however is found in the larger Pacific Ocean. It lives in the Aquarium as part of our Connected Coasts gallery.

Zebra lionfish are skilled ambush predators that herd small fish into a corner or crevice, making it easier for them to strike their prey.

Zebra lionfish perform their courtship and spawn at night.

Citations & Other Resources

Allen, G. R. 2013. Field Guide to Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia. Western Australian Museum, Sydney, AUSTRALIA.

Ditty, J. G., E. Malca, and L. Vásquez-Yeomans. 2024. The lionfishes: Comparative development of Pterois volitans, Dendrochirus barberi, and D. hemprichi (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae: Pteroinae) and discrimination of their early life stages from non-pteroine scorpaenid genera in the Western North Atlantic. Zootaxa 5446:1-.

Pavlov, D. A., and N. G. Emel’yanova. 2019. Biological Characteristics of Dendrochirus zebra (Cuvier, 1829) (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae) from Nha Trang Bay, South China Sea. Russian Journal of Marine Biology 45:75–85.

Myers, R. F. 1989. Micronesian reef fishes : a practical guide to the identification of the coral reef fishes of the tropical central and western Pacific. Coral Graphics. Barrigada, Territory of Guam, U.S.A.

Motomura, H. and K. Matsuura. 2016. Dendrochirus zebra. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.

Zebra Lionfish

Zebra Lionfish

Other Common Names

At the Aquarium

Appearance

Habitat

Diet

Life History

IUCN Status

Ecosystem & Cultural Importance

Citations & Other Resources

Contact Us

Subscribe to E-Newsletter

About Oregon Coast Aquarium