firefish
FY-er-fish
Definition
A common name for certain types of marine fish, particularly those in the genus Pterois (like the red lionfish), often kept in saltwater aquariums for their vibrant, ornate appearance.
Etymology
The name is a compound of 'fire' and 'fish,' likely referring to the bright, flame-like coloration or the stinging, burning sensation caused by the venomous spines characteristic of the species.
In the news
The article mentions the devil firefish alongside the red lionfish as one of the species native to the Indo-Pacific that, after being released from aquariums, became an invasive presence in the Atlantic.
Aquarium releases probably seeded the Atlantic lionfish invasion; with females producing about two million eggs a year and almost no predators capable of controlling them, the fish colonised 7.3 million square kilometres of the western Atlantic and Caribbean
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com