Marine Life

Indian lionfish, Soldier turkeyfish

Fanhaamas

Pterois miles

Pterois miles was identified as P. volitans (Linnaeus) in the Catalogue of Fishes of the Maldives Vol. 1, page 136. Most ichthyologists now consider P. miles and P. volitans to be sibling species, with the former limited to the Indian Ocean and the latter found in the Pacific. However, this distinction is currently under review.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 35 cm
color: Reddish or tan grey, with numerous thin dark bars on body and head. Tentacle above eye occasionally faintly banded. Dark spots on fins.
order: Scorpaeniformes
family: Scorpaenidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/pterois-miles.png
habitat and biology: The depth of the benthic zone is approximately 60 meters.
distinctive characters: This species has a dorsal fin with 13 spines and 9-11 rays, an anal fin with 3 spines and 6 rays, and pectoral fins with 13-15 rays that extend well beyond the caudal fin base, with the upper rays being plume-like. The scales are cycloid and small, and in adults, there are many spinules on the bones below the eye.