Species: Pontinus nematophthalmus, Spinythroat Scorpionfish

Pontinus nematophthalmus (Gunther, 1860)

Spinythroat Scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines, without pit behind eye; cirrus over eye, when present is long (~2X eye), slender; snout short, ~eye; ridge under eye with 3-4 spines; uppermost preopercular spine longest, 2nd spine reduced but seldom absent; bone above mouth before eye with 2 back-pointing spines, plus a small spine often on its side; teeth on roof of mouth at sides but not on center; slit present behind last gill arch; a long, down-pointing V shaped bone at junction of front rays of gill membranes under throat; dorsal fin XII (none notably elongated), 8.5-9.5; anal fin III+5; pectoral with longest rays in center, 16 (15-17) rays, all unbranched; scales rough, present on cheek, behind eye and on chest; lateral line complete, with tubes on scales.

Reddish; often 4 ill-defined dark saddles on back.

Reaches 14 cm.

Rocky and shell bottoms.

Depth range: 82-698 m.

Georgia to Brazil.