https://cdn.fishfyi.com/og/fish/african-lionfish.png

African lionfish

Pterois mombasae

Not Evaluated Saltwater
Max Length
20.0 cm
Depth Range
10-70m
Family

About

The African lionfish (Pterois mombasae) is a saltwater fish reaching up to 20 cm in length. It inhabits rocky reef environments in the western Indian Ocean and, like other lionfish, has venomous dorsal spines for defense.

Physical Description

Measurement Value
Maximum Length 20.0 cm
Depth Range 10-70m

Habitat & Distribution

Water Type
Saltwater
Depth Range
10-70m
{# Distribution Map — SVG world map highlighting countries where the fish is found. Expects: distribution_country_codes (JSON array of ISO alpha-2 codes) #}

Taxonomy

Order Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes)
Family Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes)
Species Pterois mombasae

Frequently Asked Questions

How big does African lionfish get?
African lionfish can grow up to 20.0 cm long.
What family does African lionfish belong to?
African lionfish (Pterois mombasae) belongs to the family Scorpaenidae (Scorpionfishes) in the order Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes).

Similar Fish

Other species in the Scorpaenidae family

External Databases

Explore More

Fish Rankings

Discover the largest, heaviest, and most exciting fish species

Nature FYI Family

Explore more wildlife and biodiversity encyclopedias