Fish Poisson

Devil firefish

Pterois miles

Devil firefish
FAO 37 - Mediterranean and Black Sea
Fishing zone
Wild
Origin
—
Minimum size

Description

Pterois miles is a marine fish recognizable by its long, fan-shaped fins and its red, white, and brown striped pattern. It can grow to about 40–50 cm in length.
Its venomous spines serve as an effective defense against predators.
It is a crepuscular species, most active at sunrise and sunset.
Habitat
It inhabits a variety of coastal environments, including coral reefs, rocky areas, caves, seagrass beds, and artificial substrates.
It is most commonly found at depths of 0 to 80–85 m.
It is a sedentary species, often observed in small groups or alone. It frequently hides in crevices during the day and hunts during periods of low light.
Distribution
Its native range is the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean.
Its current range shows significant expansion into the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. With this recent expansion, we now see populations established in several areas of the eastern and central Mediterranean. This species is now considered a major invasive alien species in the Mediterranean.

Trophic level

Recommended recipes
Dish
Scorpionfish in Tomato Sauce

Scorpionfish in Tomato Sauce

40 min • Average

This traditional Cypriot recipe features scorpionfish, but it can just as easily be made with another firm-fleshed white fish, such as grouper, snapper, or sea bass.