Dark red to dark brown bands with white inter-spaces bisected by thin dark bands. White tassels at the tips of dorsal spines and obvious tassels on lower jaw. Head has more bands than than most other Pteroinae (Lionfishes) species. Distinguished from very similar P. volitans (Common Lionfish) primarily by location, being found in the western Indian Ocean and the Atlantic, but also has shorter pectoral fins.

• Max Size: 35 cm
• Sea Temperature Range: 21.0-32.7°C
• Depth: 1-85m
• Habitat: Coral Reef, Rocky Reef, Soft sediment

• Threats: Exploitation
• IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
• Occurrence: Frequent (12% of sites)
  Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
• Abundance: Solitary (1 per transect)
  Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.