WANTED: INVASIVE SPECIES
Pterois Volitans/Lionfish/The Spine Slayer BY: Annie Miller
Characteristics
- Stripes (almost like a zebras)
- Long, pectoral fins
- About a foot long
- This criminal does NOT look like something you would want to touch!
Last Seen
This criminal was last seen in the reefs and crevices of the Indo-Pacific waters.
Suspected Hideouts
Prefers to hideout in the coastal waters of the southeast US and Caribbean. Was introduced to the US by aquarium trade.
Crimes Committed
This criminal contains venom that can be a threat to humans. Although this venom rarely kills, it will cause extreme pain, nausea, and breathing difficulties. This criminal has a healthy population that prey on small fish and anything else they can get their mouths on. They are hurting the marine environment of the US/Caribbean waters by eating away all the "cleaner" fish, who remove harmful materials off of marine organisms. They are also outbreeding and outliving native fish species.
Rewards
- Fish and other marine organisms populations would be saved.
- Healthier environment for marine organisms because of the living "cleaners".
- Safe waters for humans to swim in.