Lion fish

The lion fish has a laterally compressed body, reddish-brown vertical bands, and long, fan-like pectoral fins. It reaches 35–38 cm in length. It is native to the Indian Ocean and Red Sea, and has entered the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal via Lessepsian migration. It was first reported in the eastern Mediterranean in the 1990s and has expanded rapidly, particularly along the Levantine coasts, Cyprus, and the Aegean Sea. Its spread raises ecological concerns, as it is a voracious predator that reduces populations of small reef fish and alters community structure, with potential long-term impacts on native biodiversity and fisheries.