According to a recent study by Simon Fraser University's Department of Biological Sciences' Tropical Marine Ecology Lab, several native Bahamas groupers recently caught in Bahamas waters were found to have red lionfish in their stomachs. The study suggested that "native grouper species were preying on red lionfish with some regularity."

A grouper caught in January 2008 was also found to have eaten a red lionfish, although the study observed that this was considered to be an anomaly at the time, "due to both the venomous nature of the lionfish and their relatively recent introduction to the Bahamas."

"To our knowledge," the study asserts, "this is the first documented evidence of introduced red lionfish being preyed upon by native species within their novel range."

Information provided by: A. Maljkovic and T. E. Van Leeuwen Tropical Marine Ecology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, CanadaV5A 1S6

e-mail: amaljkov@sfu.ca