Pterois lunulata

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	ACTINOPTERYGII	SCORPAENIFORMES	SCORPAENIDAE

Scientific Name:

Pterois lunulata

Species Authority:

Temminck & Schlegel, 1843

Common Name/s:

English	–	Dragon's Beard Fish, Japanese Lionfish, Luna Lion Fish
French	–	Poisson Scorpion

Taxonomic Notes:

This species may prove to be conspecific with Pterois russellii.

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2010
Assessor/s:	Motomura, H.
Reviewer/s:	Collen, B., Richman, N., Beresford, A., Chenery, A. & Ram, M.
Contributor/s:	De Silva, R., Milligan, H., Lutz, M., Batchelor, A., Jopling, B., Kemp, K., Lewis, S., Lintott, P., Sears, J., Wilson, P. & Smith, J. and Livingston, F.
Justification: Pterois lunulata has been assessed as Least Concern. This broadly distributed species is harvested as a food source and for the aquarium trade, however these are not considered to be major threats to this species at present. Further research and monitoring of the harvest levels and population numbers of this species is needed, to determine if it is likely to suffer significant population declines in the future.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Pterois lunulata is distributed from Korea and southern Hokkaido in Japan, southward through China, Taiwan, and Indonesia, to northern Australia, Queensland and New Caledonia.
Countries:	Native: Australia (Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia); China; Hong Kong; Indonesia; Japan; Korea, Republic of; New Caledonia; Taiwan, Province of China
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:	Native: Pacific – northwest; Pacific – western central
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	There is no population information available for Pterois lunulata.
Population Trend:	Unknown

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Pterois lunulata is found on open substrates with remote outcrops of reef, or soft-bottom substrates at moderate depths. This species feeds on fish and crustaceans. The spines of P. Lunulata are venomous. Species from the Scorpaenidae family are typically found on, or near, the bottom, from the surface to a depth of 150 m. Most species from this family are known to lead solitary lives and only aggregate for reproduction (FAO 1999).
Systems:	Marine

Habitat and Ecology:

Pterois lunulata is found on open substrates with remote outcrops of reef, or soft-bottom substrates at moderate depths. This species feeds on fish and crustaceans. The spines of P. Lunulata are venomous. Species from the Scorpaenidae family are typically found on, or near, the bottom, from the surface to a depth of 150 m. Most species from this family are known to lead solitary lives and only aggregate for reproduction (FAO 1999).

Systems:

Marine

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Pterois lunulata is utilised as a food source. The venomous dorsal-fin spines are removed by fisherman when marketed (FAO 1999). This species is also harvested from the wild for display in public aquariums. However, neither of these threats are considered to have a significant impact on the population size of this species, as these are localised threats only.

Major Threat(s):

Pterois lunulata is utilised as a food source. The venomous dorsal-fin spines are removed by fisherman when marketed (FAO 1999). This species is also harvested from the wild for display in public aquariums. However, neither of these threats are considered to have a significant impact on the population size of this species, as these are localised threats only.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for Pterois lunulata, however its distribution may coincide with a number of marine protected area designations, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park off Queensland. Further research and monitoring of the harvest levels and population numbers of this species is needed, to determine if it is likely to suffer significant population declines in the future.

Conservation Actions:

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place for Pterois lunulata, however its distribution may coincide with a number of marine protected area designations, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park off Queensland.

Further research and monitoring of the harvest levels and population numbers of this species is needed, to determine if it is likely to suffer significant population declines in the future.

Citation:	Motomura, H. 2010. Pterois lunulata. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 May 2013.
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