Species that are considered high risk have a well-documented history of invasiveness in at least one location globally, and a high or medium climate match to the contiguous United States.
Pterois volitans is a marine species native to the Indo-Pacific. It is found from the Cocos-Keeling Islands and Western Australia in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Marquesas and Oeno (Pitcairn group), north to southern Japan and southern Korea, south to Lord Howe Island, northern New Zealand, and the Austral Island. Pterois volitans inhabit lagoon and seaward reefs from turbid inshore areas to depths of 50 m. Often solitary, they hide in unexposed places at daytime often with head down and practically immobile. Pelagic juveniles expatriate over great distances and the reason for their broad geographical range. The species hunt small fishes, shrimps, and crabs at night, using its widespread pectorals trapping prey into a corner, stunning it and then swallowing it in one sweep. Pterois volitans has fin spines which are venomous and it may cause ciguatera fish poisoning. Introductions of this species to the United States have resulted in established populations. Those introductions have also resulted in the spread of the species to numerous other locations both north and south. Impacts from those introductions include reduced populations of prey fish, reduction in recruitment of endemic species and deleterious changes in coral-reef communities. Climate match with the contiguous United States is high, with the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts likely habitat. Overall risk posed by this species is high.
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High Risk
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