Species: Neomerinthe hemingwayi, Spinycheek Scorpionfish

Neomerinthe hemingwayi Fowler, 1935

Spinycheek Scorpionfish

Elongate, robust body; snout 59-91% 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; preopercule with only 1, central spine; pectoral fin wedge-shaped, 16-18, usually 17 rays, longest rays in center, rays 3-8 branched at tip in adults; dorsal fin XII, 10.5 (rarely 9.5) rays (last is split to base and counted as 1.5); body scales rough, 60-70 longitudinal rows above lateral line; lateral line extends to tail fin.

Reddish brown; back and sides mottled and spotted with dark; lateral line under soft dorsal with a group of 3 dark spots; dorsal fin heavily mottled and spotted; tail fin heavily spotted; pectorals irregularly spotted.

Reaches 40 cm.

Lives on hard bottoms.

Depth range: 31-253 m.

New Jersey south to the Gulf of Mexico.