Both beauty and the beast, the Lionfish (Pterois volitans) is an easily recognisable reef fish found in tropical waters. The elongated dorsal fin spines and enlarged pectoral fins are extremely venomous and can cause painful puncture wounds. Lion-fish stings can cause nausea, breathing difficulties, paralysis, convulsions and collapse. Death may occur in exceptional circumstances but fatalities are rare. Lionfish are lazy predators and have a tendency to simply drift with the current.

(A personal aside, this is one of my favourite fish. I think they are beautiful creatures and are so graceful and elegant but serve as a lesson in life - not all that is beautiful is safe to touch.

And a note to Jazz, you would have got some of my own pictures tonight but it turns out that my scanner doesn’t work with XP so I’m afraid you’ll have to wait!)