The common lionfish (Lat. Pterois miles). It is a species of ray-finned fish native to the western Indo-Pacific region. The scientific name is from Greek pteron, meaning “wing”, and Latin miles, meaning “soldier”. It is usually found on the rocky bottom. It grows up to 35 cm (14 in) in length. The dorsal fin appears feathery and the pectoral fins are wing-like with separate broad, smooth rays. These fish vary in colour from reddish to tan or grey and have numerous thin, dark, vertical bars on their heads and bodies. It is mainly nocturnal and hides in crevices during the daytime. It feeds on fish and small crustaceans. It has few predators, probably because of its venomous spines, but larger lionfish do prey on smaller ones. The fin spines are highly venomous and have caused death to humans in some reported cases.