Predators in Disguise

Photo by Ahsan C.

Lionfish are known for their ornate beauty as they are very colorful and florid creatures. 
Many other fish get mistaken when they see these fish and do not see them as predatory animals. They use this to their advantage as they utilize their alluring bodies consisting of shades of a red base with white, black and cream stripes. They would sit and wait as other fish not feel threatened by them and would even be attracted to them and when the time is right, would attack as these fish would come close to them.
This is one of many predatory techniques that these fish use to feed on their prey. These fishes are forces to be reckoned with as they are slowly taking over the coral reef ecosystems in the Atlantic and the Caribbean! If some action is not taken against these animals, our native fish are going to be wiped out as their numbers are already decreasing at a large rate.
For my Science Communication class that I do in University, I wrote a newspaper article as an assignment about these lionfish slowly taking over the Caribbean regions as they have been spotted in Bermuda, Rhode Island, Jamaica and even the Bahamas. If they continue growing and multiplying at the rate that they are right now, they will eventually drastically affect the reefs in my home country, Trinidad and Tobago. These fish need to be controlled soon as our fishes could face a grim future.
This is the link to my newspaper article if you would like to take a look: 


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