Pterois antennata

Pterois antennata was first formally described in 1787 as Scorpaena antennata by German physician and naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch, with the type locality given as Ambon Island in Indonesia. In 2023, it was reclassified as a species of the revalidated genus Pteropterus. Etymology The specific name antennata means "with antennae", an allusion to the supraorbital tentacles. ==Description==

Pterois antennata has a laterally compressed rather deep body. This species attains a maximum total length of . ==Distribution and habitat==

Pterois antennata has a wide Indo-West Pacific distribution, from the Gulf of Aden south to South Africa east to French Polynesia, north as far as southern Japan, and south to Australia In Australian waters, its range extends from Fremantle in Western Australia north and east around the tropical northern coasts to at least as far south as Sydney in New South Wales. It is also found at Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, the reefs of the Coral Sea, the region of sea around Lord Howe Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Christmas Island. It is found at depths of between in lagoon and seaward reefs. ==Biology==

Pterois antennata is a nocturnal hunter, most active just after nightfall, and spends the day hiding in crevices and caves facing inwards with its venomous spines pointing backwards. It preys mainly on crustaceans and small fishes, including juveniles of its own species, which are approached slowly using undulating fins. They are normally solitary and protect a home range from other broad-barred lionfishes and other lionfish species. They do form aggregations as juveniles and for breeding. Pterois lionfishes spawn monthly, and the females can lay up to 15,000 eggs in a mass covered in mucus, which the males' sperm can penetrate to fertilise the eggs. The eggs are thought to hatch after 36 hours. Predators of this species include sharks and the cornet fish Fistularia commersonii. ==Use==

Pterois antennata is caught in some subsistence fisheries, but its small size and venomous spines mean that it is of little interest to commercial fisheries. ==References==