Red Lionfish vs Summer Flounder
Pterois volitans compared with Paralichthys dentatus
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Red Lionfish | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pterois volitans | Paralichthys dentatus |
| Order | Scorpaeniformes | Pleuronectiformes |
| Family | Scorpaenidae | Paralichthyidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Red Lionfish | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 38.0 cm | 94.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 1.1 kg | 12.0 kg |
| Color | 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. | Eyed side is brownish to gray-green with a mottled pattern of pale blotches; 12–14 distinct pale-edged dark ocelli (eyespots) scattered across the body; blind side is plain white; color changes with substrate. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Red Lionfish | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Saltwater | Saltwater |
| Depth Range | 2-55m | 10-183m |
| Geographic Range | 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 … | Western North Atlantic from Nova Scotia south to Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. Undertakes seasonal offshore migration to deeper Continental Shelf waters in … |
| Habitat | Neritic, coral reefs | Neritic, demersal, estuaries |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Red Lionfish | Summer Flounder |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | No | Yes |
| Fight Rating | — | 4/10 |
| World Record | — | — |
| Mercury Level | — | — |
Cuisine & Edibility
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.
Summer Flounder
Thin, delicate white fillets with a sweet, mild flavor and very low fat. Prized on the U.S. East Coast; superb pan-fried in butter, stuffed and baked, or prepared as ceviche.
Species Overview
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.
Summer Flounder
The summer flounder, or fluke, is a flatfish that lies camouflaged on the ocean floor. Born with eyes on both sides, one eye migrates to the left side during development. An ambush predator, it explodes upward to grab passing prey.