Lionfish (Pterois volitans): With elegant, fan-like fins and vibrant stripes, the lionfish is both beautiful and hazardous. Native to the Indo-Pacific but invasive in the Atlantic and Caribbean, it uses venomous spines to deter predators. A sting causes intense pain, nausea, and breathing difficulties, though rarely death. Its rapid spread threatens native fish populations, as it consumes juveniles of key reef species. Control efforts include culling and promoting lionfish as food. Divers are advised to avoid touching them. The lionfish exemplifies how invasive species, combined with venomous defenses, can disrupt ecosystems and pose risks to humans.
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