What Eats LionFish In Africa? Lionfish are known as the devil’s firefish because of its dorsal spines that are fatal to humans. Its spines are used by them as their defense tool whenever they feel that there’s danger nearby. But despite their powerful defense, every living creature has a predator, and Lionfish is no exception.
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What eats lionfish in Africa? Water creatures like eels, blue-spotted cornetfish, and large groupers like tiger grouper are believed to be preying on Lionfish. Aside from that, sharks are also believed eyeing on them since they are not affected by their poisonous spines.
In this article, you will know the diet of lionfish and what eats them. This topic will open your understanding of how the ecosystem under the sea works.
LionFish And Their Diet
This fish species is a genus of venomous marine fish that is sometimes called zebrafish, firefish, turkey fish, firefish, tasty fish, or butterfly-cod. Its colors are composed of red, white, creamy, or black bands and have pectoral fins and venomous spiky fin rays. This fish occupies the east coast of South Africa, around India, Indonesia, and even along the east coast of Australia. It is said to be a skilled hunter because of its amazing weapon.
For them to make sure that their food will go straight to their hungry tummy, they stalked at their prey first. In a day, a lionfish is believed to feed most actively from 7:00 to 11:00 AM and decreases throughout the afternoon. Lionfish utilizes specific bilateral swim bladder muscles that provide the precise location of their target.
Lionfish mostly eat small fishes, mollusks, invertebrates, small crab, and some few shrimps and squid. They also used their large pectoral fins and blow jet water to their target to catch it.
Lionfish’s stomach can accommodate up to six different species of fish per day. It is according to various studies about them.
LionFish Habitat
You can find lionfish usually around a seaward edge of reefs and corals and on rocky surfaces. They can be found at about 50m in-depth and is sometimes at about 300m depth water surfaces. Lionfish are also territorial. That is why any universities in the Indo-Pacific report aggression towards other reef fishes.
Predators
Being a territorial fish doesn’t excuse them for not being eaten by other species underwater. Morely eels, blue-spotted cornetfish, and large groupers like tiger grouper are believed to be eyeing on lionfish.
Aside from that, studies find that sharks are also eyeing on lionfish. It is because they are not being affected by its dangerous spines even a bit. In 2011, at Roatan Marine Park in Honduras, administrators fed sharks with lionfish in the belief that it will control its population in the Caribbean.
Conclusion
To summarize, Lionfish is one of those poisonous fish that ever been existed in the ocean. But although it is poisonous and dangerous to other species, it can still be considered as a special creature. Its unique, rare physical appearance makes it even more special, especially to other people that loved fishes. They may be aggressive and can harm people too, but there is a reason why they still exist in this world.
