Phyllis Vernon Painting

Beautiful Loser

Lionfish are an invasive species that are destroying the reefs off Florida and the Caribbean. They have voracious appetites and consume dozens of other fish in every feeding, thus drastically reducing fish populations an altering reef ecosystems.  They can lay up to 30,000 eggs every four days, and their venomous spines leave them with no known predators in Florida waters.  Divers spear as many as possible and they are apparently good to eat.  This is the only time I have ever known the title for a painting before I began it!

You can see some in the Toronto Aquarium.