Twinspot Lionfish

Dendrochirus biocellatus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Scorpaeniformes
Family: Scorpaenidae
Genus: Dendrochirus
Species: Dendrochirus biocellatus

The twinspot lionfish (Dendrochirus biocellatus) is a small, shy lionfish with two eye-spots on its dorsal fin and feathery tentacles around its face. Its body is a rich mix of red, brown and white bands.

It grows to about 10-12 cm. It spends the day hidden in crevices and under ledges, coming out at night to hunt small shrimps and fish. Like other lionfish, its spines are venomous.

The twinspot lionfish is found across the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is usually found on night dives along reefs and rocky slopes.

Photo: Jean-Paul Boerekamps, CC0 1.0, via iNaturalist