Shortfin Lionfish

Neochirus brachyptera

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Neochirus
Species: Neochirus brachyptera

The shortfin lionfish or dwarf lionfish (Neochirus brachyptera) is a small, stocky lionfish with broad, fan-shaped pectoral fins banded in red, brown and white. It was known for many years as Dendrochirus brachypterus, the name still used in most dive guides, but WoRMS now places it in the genus Neochirus.

It grows to only about 15-17 cm. Unlike the long, separated fin rays of the red lionfish, its pectoral fins are joined by membrane and held out like a wide fan, which it spreads to corner small shrimps and fish. Its dorsal spines are venomous, so it should never be touched.

In the Philippines it is found on sandy and rubble slopes, seagrass and muck sites, often sitting still beside sponges, debris or coral heads, and is most active at dusk and at night.