Lionfish the latest species to invade Florida

Associated Press file photo

The lionfish, a venomous predator from the western Pacific, is rapidly spreading in the Caribbeans warm waters in what has been called one of the 100 worst alien species invasions.

By The Associated Press
Published: February 08, 2010

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KEY LARGO --

The lionfish, a beautiful but venomous invasive species, has slowly begun spreading throughout the Florida Keys, wreaking havoc to the marine environment.

The Miami Herald reports that more than 80 of the intruders have been documented over the last year. They were found from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas, and so far, all have been juveniles.

The lionfish has no known predators and is a voracious eater. They are believed to have come from aquariums and were spotted off the coast in Miami more than two decades ago.

The species has since spread throughout the Caribbean and the eastern seaboard.

Scientists worry the fish will devastate area reefs off the Florida Keys.