Ecology Summary - Pterois volitans

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Main Ref.	Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984
Remarks	Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs from turbid inshore areas to depths of 50 m. Hides in unexposed places at daytime often with head down and practically immobile. Pelagic juveniles expatriate over great distances and the reason for their broad geographical range (Ref. 48635). Hunts small fishes, shrimps, and crabs at night, using its widespread pectorals trapping prey into a corner, stunning it and then swallowing it in one sweep. Daylight hours are spent resting under ledges, in caves or among wreckage, either singly or in aggregations (Ref. 54301). Dorsal spines are venomous; the sting can be treated by heating the afflicted part and application of corticoids (Ref. 5503).

Main Ref.

Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984

Remarks

Inhabits lagoon and seaward reefs from turbid inshore areas to depths of 50 m. Hides in unexposed places at daytime often with head down and practically immobile. Pelagic juveniles expatriate over great distances and the reason for their broad geographical range (Ref. 48635). Hunts small fishes, shrimps, and crabs at night, using its widespread pectorals trapping prey into a corner, stunning it and then swallowing it in one sweep. Daylight hours are spent resting under ledges, in caves or among wreckage, either singly or in aggregations (Ref. 54301). Dorsal spines are venomous; the sting can be treated by heating the afflicted part and application of corticoids (Ref. 5503).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

	Marine - Neritic	Marine - Oceanic	Brackishwater	Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies	supra-littoral zone littoral zone sublittoral zone	epipelagic mesopelagic epipelagic abyssopelagic hadopelagic	estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas mangroves marshes/swamps	rivers/streams lakes/ponds caves exclusively in caves

Highighted items on the list are where Pterois volitans may be found.

Habitat

Substrate	Benthic; : sand; Hard Bottom;
Substrate Ref.	Côté, I.M. and N.S. Smith, 2018
Special habitats	Beds: algae/seaweed; sea grass; Coral Reefs: lagoons;
Special habitats Ref.	Nguyen, N.T. and V.Q. Nguyen, 2006

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type	mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref.	Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984
Feeding habit	hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref.	Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984

Trophic Level(s)

Estimation method	Original sample		Unfished population		Remark
Estimation method	Troph	s.e.	Troph	s.e.	Remark
From diet composition	4.35	0.36	4.45	0.79	Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items	3.44	0.51			Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref.	Sano, M., M. Shimizu and Y. Nose, 1984

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