Common Name
Spinythroat Scorpionfish
Year Described
Günther, 1860
Identification
Dorsal Fin: XII, 8.5-9.5
Anal Fin: III, 5
Pectoral Fin: 15-17 (usually 16)
Pelvic Fin: I, 5
Vertebrae:
Scale rows above lateral line: 42-47
Body deep (deepest at gill opening) with a huge head. Snout about equal to eye diameter. Supraorbital cirrus long and tapered. Dorsal profile convex. Ventral profile flattened. Eye and mouth large. Head with multiple strong ridges and short spines. Lacrimal bone with a pair of downward-pointed spines (point more posteriorly) and sometimes one small lateral spine. A strong cheek ridge is present (with 3 spines). Preopercle with a few small spines (second spine small or rarely missing). Hypohyals with an extended ventral process. Body covered in ctenoid scales. Lateral line complete. Spiny dorsal fin fairly high, with spines of similar length. Soft dorsal fin is truncate posteriorly. Pectoral fin fanlike, with the middle rays being the longest. Pectoral rays all unbranched. Caudal fin truncate.
Color
Body rosy red to salmon orange with irregular banding on body and head. A red eyeband, thick midbody band, and a band running from soft dorsal to anal fin usually prominent. Area between gil cover and pectoral fin white with a red spot. A white band on caudal peduncle. Jaw with whitish and red banding/spots. Dorsal fin with red spots along the rays and white tips on the spines. Anal fin with a dark red band and whitish markings. Pectoral and caudal fins with red spots on rays.
Size
Maximum size to 13.2cm SL.
Habitat
Bottom dwelling from 86-402m.
Range
Scattered records from the Atlantic coast of Florida to Venezuela, including the Caribbean islands.
References
Poss, S.G. 2002. Scorpaenidae. In: FAO Species Identification Guide to Fishes of the Western Atlantic. (ed. Carpenter K), pp. 1232-1265. UN FAO Publishers, Rome.