Greater Amberjack vs Red Lionfish
Seriola dumerili compared with Pterois volitans
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Greater Amberjack | Red Lionfish |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Seriola dumerili | Pterois volitans |
| Order | Carangiformes | Scorpaeniformes |
| Family | Carangidae | Scorpaenidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Greater Amberjack | Red Lionfish |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 200.0 cm | 38.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 80.6 kg | 1.1 kg |
| Color | Olive-green to bluish back with a wide amber to golden-yellow mid-lateral stripe running from eye to tail; silvery-white belly; a dark diagonal stripe extends from snout through the eye to the dorsal fin. | White to cream body with alternating bold reddish-brown and white vertical bands; fan-like pectoral fins are banded with red-brown and white spots; long dorsal spines are striped and venomous. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Greater Amberjack | Red Lionfish |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Saltwater | Saltwater |
| Depth Range | 1-385m | 2-55m |
| Geographic Range | Circumglobal in tropical and subtropical waters including the Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Pacific. Commonly found around deepwater reefs, rocky outcrops, and offshore oil … | Native to the Indo-Pacific from East Africa and the Red Sea to southern Japan, Australia, and the Marquesas. Invasive in the western Atlantic and Caribbean … |
| Habitat | Pelagic, coral reefs | Neritic, coral reefs |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Greater Amberjack | Red Lionfish |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | Yes | No |
| Fight Rating | 9/10 | — |
| World Record | — | — |
| Mercury Level | — | — |
Cuisine & Edibility
Greater Amberjack
Firm, rich flesh with a moderately strong flavor; can carry parasites in tropical waters, requiring thorough cooking. Good grilled or baked; related to the highly prized Japanese hamachi.
Red Lionfish
Sweet, buttery white flesh once spines are safely removed; increasingly promoted as a sustainable food source in Atlantic waters where it is an invasive species.
Species Overview
Greater Amberjack
The greater amberjack is the largest of the jacks, known for brutal head-shaking fights and powerful dives toward structure. Found near reefs, wrecks, and offshore platforms in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide.
Red Lionfish
The red lionfish is a venomous coral reef fish native to the Indo-Pacific. Its ornate, striped body and fan-like pectoral fins make it popular in aquariums, but it has become a destructive invasive species in the western Atlantic and Caribbean.