Red Lionfish vs Yellow Perch
Pterois volitans compared with Perca flavescens
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Red Lionfish | Yellow Perch |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pterois volitans | Perca flavescens |
| Order | Scorpaeniformes | Perciformes |
| Family | Scorpaenidae | Percidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Red Lionfish | Yellow Perch |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 38.0 cm | 50.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 1.1 kg | 1.9 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. | Bright golden-yellow body with 6–8 broad dark olive-green vertical saddle-bars; belly pale yellow to white; paired and anal fins are vivid orange to red; two separate dorsal fins, the first dark-spined. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Red Lionfish | Yellow Perch |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Saltwater | Brackish |
| Depth Range | 2-55m | 0-56m |
| 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 … | Native to freshwater and slightly brackish lakes and rivers of central and eastern Canada and the northern United States, including all five Great Lakes. Abundant … |
| Habitat | Neritic, coral reefs | Estuaries |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Red Lionfish | Yellow Perch |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | No | Yes |
| Fight Rating | — | 3/10 |
| 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.
Yellow Perch
Sweet, clean white flesh with very low fat and a delicate texture; among the most prized freshwater eating fish in the Great Lakes region. Best pan-fried or sautéed simply in butter.
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.
Yellow Perch
The yellow perch is a schooling fish found in lakes and slow rivers across North America. Its golden-yellow body with dark vertical bars is unmistakable. Its sweet, firm white flesh makes it one of the finest-tasting freshwater fish.