Species: Neomerinthe beanorum, Spotwing Scorpionfish

Neomerinthe beanorum (Evermann & Marsh, 1900)

Spotwing Scorpionfish

Elongate, robust body; snout 70-130% of eye diameter; bone bearing nostrils with 2 down-pointing spines on its lower edge before eye, and another side-pointing spine on its side at rear; bony ridge under and behind eye with 3 spines; teeth on sides of roof of mouth; 1st preopercular spine is the longest; pectoral fin wedge-shaped, 16-18, usually 17 rays, longest rays in center, rays 3-9 branched at tip in adults; dorsal fin XII, 9.5 (rarely 8.5 or 10.5) rays (last is split to base and counted as 1.5); body scales rough, 40-45 longitudinal rows above lateral line; lateral line extends to tail fin.

Upper body mottled red and brown; pectoral fin with elongate dark spots; middle of spiny dorsal dark; soft dorsal and upper tail spotted.

Reaches 19.5 cm.

Lives on hard bottoms.

Depth range: 90-375 m.

The Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas and Caribbean.