Eco-briefs
VENEZUELA Lionfish Alert: Lionfish Alert

CARACAS, Nov 16 (Tierramérica).- Venezuela fears the arrival in its Caribbean islands of the lionfish (Pterois volitans), "a voracious predator that seeks refuge in reefs and lies in wait for its prey, especially young invertebrates, lobster and fish."

Juan Posada, a biologist at Simón Bolívar University, told Tierramérica about the threats posed by the exotic species.

The lionfish can grow to a length of 45 centimeters. Its body is covered with long, poisonous spines that it uses to attack its prey. It is native to the Pacific Ocean, "where it has natural predators, like sharks and some large-mouthed fish species," said Posada.

In 1992, when Hurricane Andrew hit the southeastern U.S. state of Florida, six lionfish escaped from an aquarium and reproduced in the Bahamas, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, and are reaching Colombia and the islands near Venezuela.