Species Information

• Body is white or cream colored with red to reddish-brown vertical stripes; stripes can be wide or thin 
• Numerous long, venomous spines (dorsal and anal)
• Adults can grow to 15 in (38cm) and weigh 2.6 lb (1.2 kg)

• Along U.S. east coast, waters of 13.8–24.4°C
• Depth range of 33-575 ft (10-175 m)
• Hides in unexposed places at daytime, often with head down and nearly immobile

• Adults: North Carolina to Florida; established and reproducing along the southeast United States coast
• Juveniles: New York, North Carolina, and Bermuda
• Native to coral reefs of Indian and western Pacific Oceans

• Feeds on a wide variety of smaller fish, shrimp, and crabs
• Venomous spines can injure people