Quiet Ocean · Plate 3 of 45

Lionfish color reference

Lionfish are native to the reefs of the Indo-Pacific, and they have spread through the western Atlantic and the Caribbean, where they are an invasive species. Their long, fan-like fins carry venomous spines. They hunt small fish by spreading their fins and herding prey into a corner.

Colors to reach for

Paint bold stripes of maroon or red-brown over a cream or white body, and give the long fins the same stripes with soft spots between them.

• maroon
• red brown
• cream
• white
• dark brown

More from Quiet Ocean

• Copperband butterflyfishQuiet Ocean, plate 5
• AngelfishQuiet Ocean, plate 6
• Clownfish and anemoneQuiet Ocean, plate 7
• PufferfishQuiet Ocean, plate 8

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