What is Pterois?
{{Automatic taxobox |image = Red lionfish near Gilli Banta Island.JPG |image_caption = ''Pterois volitans'' |taxon = Pterois |authority = [[Lorenz Oken|Oken]], 1817<ref name = CofF>{{Cof family|family=Scorpaenidae|access-date=3 March 2022}}</ref> |type_species =''[[Pterois volitans|Scorpaena volitans]]'' |type_species_authority = [[Marcus Elieser Bloch|Bloch]], 1787<ref name = Whitley>{{cite journal | author = [[Gilbert Percy Whitley|Gilbert Whitley]] |year = 1939 | title =Ichthyological genotypes: Desmarest's designations, 1874 | journal = Australian Zoologist | volume = 9 | issue = 3 | pages = 222–226 | url = https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38926856#page/283/mode/1up}}</ref> | synonyms = * ''Macrochirus'' <small>[[William Swainson|Swainson]], 1839</small> * ''Pseudomonopterus'' <small>[[Pieter Bleeker|Bleeker]], 1863</small> * ''Pteroleptus'' <small>Swainson, 1839</small> * ''Pteropterus'' <small>Swainson, 1839</small> |synonyms_ref = <ref name = CofF/> }} '''''Pterois''''', also known as '''lionfish''', is a [[genus]] of venomous [[fish|marine fish]]. They are found mostly in the [[Indo-Pacific]]. ''Pterois'' is characterized by [[warning coloration]] with red, white, creamy, or black bands, showy pectoral fins and venomous spiky [[fin ray]]s.<ref name=b>{{cite web|last=National Geographic|title=Lionfish|date=11 April 2010|url=http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/lionfish/|access-date=7 August 2013|archive-date=13 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113155623/http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/lionfish|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Pterois'' are classified into a number of different species, but ''[[Pterois radiata]]'', ''[[Pterois volitans]]'' and ''[[Pterois miles]]'' are the most commonly studied. ''Pterois'' are popular [[aquarium]] fish and are readily used for cooking.<ref name=b /> ''Pterois'' are about 2.44in (6.2cm) to 16.69in (42.4 cm) with typical adults measuring 14.96in (37.9 cm) . They weigh an average of 1.05 lbs (0.47 kg).<ref name=a>