Species: Pontinus rathbuni, Highfin Scorpionfish

Pontinus rathbuni Goode & Bean, 1896

Highfin Scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines, without pit behind eye; cirrus over eye usually shorter than eye and splayed at tip; snout short, ~eye; ridge under eye with 3-4 spines; uppermost preopercular spine longest; bone above mouth before eye with 2 spines pointing back and down, plus a small spine often on its side; teeth on roof of mouth at sides but not at front; slit present behind last gill arch; a short V shaped bone at junction of front rays of gill membranes under throat; dorsal fin XII (high at front, but no single spine notably elongated), 9.5; anal III+5; pectoral with longest rays in center, 17 (16-18) rays, all unbranched; scales rough, present on cheek, behind eye and on chest; lateral line complete, with tubes on scales.

Probably reddish with darker spots and blotches on pectoral and tail fins; dark smudges on lateral line scales; small fish often with 4 dark bars.

Reaches 25 cm.

Rocky and shell bottoms.

Depth range: 73-1033 m.

N Carolina to Brazil.