What do you get when you mix a lion, a fish and some venom? The Common Lionfish (Pterois volitans), of course.
This spectacular tropical species is found widely throughout the Indo-Pacific. It’s definitely a look don’t touch sort of fish – the 16 spines on its dorsal, pelvic and anal fins are venomous.
I snapped this particular fish on display at the Kula Wild Adventure Park in Fiji, along with the rest of their live coral display.
Faran Silverton 
Great photo! I lived in Fiji for three years, and we never did make it to Kula. We did manage to do a lot of snorkelling though, and your post brought back some lovely memories 😊
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It’s such a lovely place. I got to do a glass bottom boat trip and reef walking when I first visited as a kid, but nothing like that on this visit. There were some treasures in the shallow water at our resort during low tide – although I got the heebie-jeebies after seeing a couple of sea snakes and didn’t stay in the water after that!
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Sea snakes! I remember them well. They were particularly prominent at a small island off Suva we stayed at once, which I can’t recall the name of right now. Ah, the memories! 😆
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There were heaps of them the time I went reef-walking, years ago. They move SO fast – very unnerving.
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I am fascinated by these! So complex and beautiful.
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I agree Nicole. It was such a beautiful fish to watch, and not one that you’d assume could be nasty e.g. like a stonefish
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