Pterois volitans (Linnaeus 1758) —Volitans lionfish

Status at New Ireland. New record, based on a specimen photographed at Lissenung Island by Dietmar Amon on 1 May 2009, and at 10 m depth by Dean Tully on 21 Sept. 2012; a video of a specimen taken from Senta Passage, off eastern New Hanover, 5–16 m depth, at St. KR 118, in 2014 (identified by Barry C. Russell).

Distribution and habitat. New Ireland: 1, 2.—General distribution: Christmas and Cocos-Keeling islands (Indian Ocean) east to Line Islands, French Polynesia, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia and New Caledonia; invasive in the western Atlantic. Found solitary or in small groups in caves, crevices or under ledges in inshore and seaward reefs, 1–55 m depth. Marine.