Back

The red and black dots are locations in the Atlantic Ocean where lionfish have been reported as of May 2003. Notice that sightings are few north of Cape Hatteras. Because lionfish are normally found in subtropical and tropical waters, their distribution is limited in the Atlantic by the colder temperate waters north of Cape Hatteras, where the warm Gulf Stream flows away from the continental shelf. (Photo credit: Paula Whitfield)

Map of locations in the Atlantic Ocean where lionfish have been reported as of May 2003