Purple Finned Volitan (w' pic)

[LRS078]

Hello All,
Awhile back I came across a small volitan at an LFS that had purple bands on its pectoral fins. He came home and is doing great.

Anyone heard of this before?

Pic below:

I'll try to get better pics out soon...

 

[chasekwe]

It looks to me like the transluscent brown of the fins reacting with your purple/bluish lighting. But that is just the impression I take from the picture, I'm sure you've got a much better idea of it there.

 

[T-T-Trigger]

that is a Pterois russelli (sp), commonly called a clearfin lionfish and a russell's lionfish. Although quite common they are regularly mislabeled as 'red volitan' at the store, it is not a P. volitan.

nice specimen, btw

 

[LRS078]

Trust me the fins are purple but I admit the LR and the lighting don't help.... I can get a clearer shot if I use the flash but everything else looks like crap if I do...

Thx for the ID....

 

[chasekwe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6770316#post6770316 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by T-T-Trigger
that is a Pterois russelli (sp), commonly called a clearfin lionfish and a russell's lionfish. Although quite common they are regularly mislabeled as 'red volitan' at the store, it is not a P. volitan.

nice specimen, btw

Could you please tell me what you look for to determine this T? I'm always curious about these things.

 

[T-T-Trigger]

The striping on the pec fins (lavender/purple hue) and the spines is unique (not present on P. russelli spines). The biggest indicator are the clear tail, anal, and dorsal fins.

And of course just from seeing so many it is a very simple determination to make.

 

[VolitanLioness]

Well I looked at my 3 Lions and each one of their fins are a different color, My larger one has brown & yellowish bands with a purple/pink iridescent swirls on the fins, my other two do not have that same coloring yet they are both different.

And that's all I can say.... LOL

Oh Yea!!!! Cool colors, maybe Frank M. will chime in on this.....

Kaye

 

[T-T-Trigger]

Just read this and all should hopefully be clearer for you both:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-11/fm/feature/index.php


Of course the book 'reef fishes vol. 1' is a good source too, if you want authoritative descriptions.

 

[VolitanLioness]

Trigger did you see the question above? LOL

It is talking about the coloration in the fins...... For as many times as I have read that article please point to me where it talks about the purple color ......

That is why I said "maybe Frank M. will chime in on this"
because he know's Lions and may have seen Purple Bands in the fins before.

Kaye

 

[FMarini]

Hey guys-
first off, it is A P. RUSSELLI lion, and the fins do look purplish. I've seen these lions w/ purplish fins, primarily becuz of how translucent the pec fin webbing is.
BUT purple fins are purple fins, like Kaye the fin webbing can contain many many hues. I hope the purple holds its colors, these fish as they grow undergo some changes in the Pec fin structures.

Hi T-T-Trigger- long time no see.

 

[T-T-Trigger]

I simply posted the link for ID purposes, not to explain the purple per se. If you look closely at juvenile and sub-adult specimes you will see as often as not ime, the purplish hue to the banding on the russell's pectoral fins. More so on the bands towards the end of the fins, but get up close and personal and you will see it.

in fact....let me see... yep, hold on... ok, got it. They are even visible in part on the photo of the P. russelli in the info care sheet. I do not think it can be considered uncommon - more like unnoticed with varying degrees of prominence.

 

[T-T-Trigger]

hi Frank, good to see you popping in once in awhile too.

 

[VolitanLioness]

Thank you for clarifying T-T-Trigger, my apologizes for taking it the wrong way.....

Kaye