[Amber's Arches, 72 fsw., Photo © 1995, A. Kimo Morris.]

The Hawaiian turkeyfish (Pterois sphex ) is one of the more showy fish on Hawaii's reefs. This fish is also commonly known as the lionfish, however Dr. Jack Randall of the Bishop Museum on O'ahu says they are turkeyfish... after all, he is the world's expert in tropical ichthyology - and whatever Jack says, goes. Turkeyfish belong to the same family as scorpionfish (Scorpionidae) and are also poisinous. Venom is injected through their hollow dorsal and pectoral spines.