Species: Pontinus longispinis, Longspine Scorpionfish

Pontinus longispinis Goode & Bean, 1896

Longspine Scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines, without pit behind eye; snout short, ~ eye size; ridge under eye with 3-4 spines; uppermost preopercular spine longest, 2nd spine small but present; bone above mouth before eye with 2 down-pointing spines, 1st spine angled down & forwards, plus a small spine often on its side; teeth on roof of mouth at sides but not at center; slit present behind last gill arch; a short V shaped bone at junction of front rays of gill membranes under throat; dorsal fin XII, 3rd spine notably elongated in large fish, 9.5; anal fin III+5; pectoral with longest rays in center, 17-18 rays, all unbranched; scales rough, present on cheek, behind eye and on chest; lateral line complete, with tubes on scales.

Red or pink, with a few darker red spots on upper body, particularly along lateral line; rows of small spots on soft dorsal and tail; outer part of spiny dorsal with a pink stripe.

Reaches 25 cm.

Rocky and shell bottoms.

Depth range: 75-1010 m.

Georgia to Brazil.