Lionfish Coloring Pages

Spread Your Big Fins, Member of the Scorpionfish Family

The Lionfish is a fish that is a member of the scorpionfish family.
In Japan, they live in rocky areas and coral reefs in the warm seas south of Honshu.
They grow to about 30 centimeters long and float gently as they swim through the water.
Their most famous feature is their big fins that spread out like bird wings.
They are popular in aquariums, so you might have seen one before.
People say they often stay still behind rocks during the day and move around looking for food from evening to night.

Looking Like It Is Wearing a Straw Raincoat

The first coloring page shows a Lionfish from the side.
Its pectoral fins are very large with long, reaching lines.
On its back, long, spiky dorsal fins stand up one by one like a mane.
It got the Japanese name Minokasago because it looks like a straw raincoat called a "mino" that people used to wear on rainy days.
Wide stripes line its body and face.
There are also small, fluttering bumps above its eyes.

Spread Your Fins and Float Slowly

The second page shows a Lionfish floating with its pectoral fins spread wide in a rocky sea.
Below it, there are rugged rocks, sea anemones, and seaweed, with little fish swimming around.
People say the Lionfish uses its big pectoral fins to corner little fish and shrimp against the rocks before swallowing them up.
It looks like it swims slowly, but it is actually a great hunter.

Two Fish in a Sea of Rocks and Coral

The third page shows two Lionfish in a sea with rocks and coral.
The big Lionfish in the front has its pectoral fins spread out all the way.
There is another Lionfish floating in the top right, too.
Around them, you can see branch-like coral, sea anemones, spiky sea urchins, seashells, and a school of little fish.
People say the Lionfish's stripes act as camouflage to help it blend into the rocky areas where seaweed grows.

For the stripes, use reddish-brown and white

The Lionfish has reddish-brown and dark brown stripes on a whitish body.
If you color every other stripe reddish-brown and leave the spaces white or pale pink, it will look just like a real Lionfish!
It also looks pretty if you change the stripe colors a little bit, like red, orange, brown, or purplish-brown.
Color the stripes on its face too, so they line up with its body.
If you color the eyes black and leave a tiny white shiny spot, its face will look nice and sharp!

For the big fins, color the ribs and webbed parts differently

Make the striped pattern on the ribs of the pectoral fins, just like on the body.
If you color the thin webbing between the ribs pale pink or light blue, it will look see-through!
If you color the spines on the back fin with alternating reddish-brown and white, they will turn into long striped spines.
Use dark brown to gently dab the tiny spots on the tail fin and back fins.

Color the sea blue and the rocks in calm colors

Color the water in blue or light blue, and make it a little brighter around the Lionfish.
It is fun to make the rocks gray or brown, and mix in a few bright colors like pink or yellow-green for the sea anemones!
Because the Lionfish has reddish stripes, making the background blue or green will really make the Lionfish pop!
Try coloring the coloring page for other cool-shaped fish like the Seahorse and the Anglerfish too!

Pretty Fins Have Poison Spines

The spines on a Lionfish's back fin, belly fin, and tail-side fin are poisonous.
When an enemy comes close, it points its spines at them to protect itself.
If a person gets stung, it hurts a lot and can swell up, too.
Even if you see one at the beach or in rock pools, never touch it.
If you ever get stung, tell a grown-up right away and see a doctor.

Bright Colors Mean "Stay Away"

Because the Lionfish has poisonous spines, people say it floats proudly without hiding very much.
Its bright stripes and big, open fins act as a warning to tell enemies, "I have poison, so stay away!"
The Red Stingray is another sea creature with poisonous spines.

Friends with Many Names

In the Lionfish family, there are friends like the Luna Lionfish and the Zebra Turkeyfish, and each has slightly different shapes and patterns.
The Luna Lionfish has thinner stripes than a standard Lionfish and is often seen at aquariums.
When you go to an aquarium, check the name tags and see which friend you can find!