Clearfin Lionfish

The Clearfin Lionfish, Pteropterus cinctus, reaches a maximum total length of 15.9 cm (6.3 in). Its body and head display a brownish-red background color with whitish lips. A wide reddish-brown band, edged with thin white stripes, extends diagonally from the supraocular tentacle to the back edge of the preoperculum. Two additional white-edged rusty bands encircle the nape. The flanks bear five similar rusty bands, with their white stripes forking at the dorsal and ventral ends; the second and third flank bands are the widest, exceeding the diameter of the orbit. A horizontal white-edged rusty band also marks the caudal peduncle. Fins are reddish-brown; only the rays of the soft dorsal and anal fins show this coloration, with their membranes translucent. Whitish markings appear on both the pectoral and pelvic fins. Fin counts include 12 dorsal spines with typically 11 soft rays (range 10-12), 3 anal spines with 6 or 7 soft rays, and usually 16 pectoral fin rays (range 15-18). The soft rays of the dorsal and anal fins are notably long, averaging 35% and 40% of the fish's standard length respectively. The pectoral and pelvic fin rays are also elongated, with the ninth pectoral ray nearly as long as or exceeding the fish's standard length. Its supraocular tentacles lack lateral branches. The specific name "cinctus" refers to its belted appearance due to these thin white stripes. It is often confused with the Indo-Pacific Pteropterus radiatus, which Pteropterus cinctus replaces throughout this sea.

Endemic to the 🌊 Red Sea, it ranges from the straits of Bab-el-Mandeb to the Gulf of Aqaba. It inhabits sandy bottoms in or near coral reefs at depths of 5 to 15 meters (16 to 49 feet). A nocturnal predator, it is typically observed resting motionless on the seafloor or within reef crevices during daylight hours. At night, it ambushes small fish and crustaceans, sometimes using its wide pectoral fins to corner prey. It is commonly encountered by divers.