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Lionfish in a Whirl

Lionfish on the on the Thistlegorm wreck in the Red Sea, Egypt.
(Alex Tattersall, United Kingdom)

This photograph, much like Van Gogh’s Starry Night is awhirl with the colors and swishes of hundreds of fish. The focal point, however, is the lionfish. Lionfish (Pterois antennata) have been known to live in the Indian Ocean, and west Pacific, and grow to a maximum of 8 inches. During the day they hide in reefs and lagoons, and comes out at night to hunt shrimps and crabs. Lionfish also carry a harmful sting, which can be extremely painful. Their venom is stored in their fin rays. They are invading areas of the Atlantic off the East Coast of the United States.