Gliding through the coral reefs in the Bay of Bengal off Saint Martin’s Island, the lionfish is one of the region’s most striking marine predators. Its bold red-and-white stripes, flowing fan-like fins and venomous spines warn would-be predators to keep their distance. Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific, including the Indian Ocean, lionfish shelter among coral reefs and rocky crevices, emerging to hunt small fish, shrimp and crabs, helping regulate reef food webs. Though classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, they face local pressures from coral reef degradation, pollution and overfishing of reef habitats. PHOTO: SHARIF SARWAR