Species: Scorpaena bergii, Goosehead Scorpionfish

Scorpaena bergii Evermann & Marsh, 1900

Goosehead Scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines; spine present behind front nostril; adults with a well developed pit on top of head behind eyes, a pair of spines before that pit; eye moderate; a pair of small, branched cirri above eyes; 1st (topmost) preopercular spine the largest; bone over front of mouth with 2 spines pointing down and forwards; ridge under eye with 1 spine, at rear; roof of mouth with teeth on sides but not on center; no slit behind last gill arch; dorsal fin XII, 9.5; anal III, 5, 3rd spine shorter than 2nd; pectoral 16-17, with some upper rays branched in adult, fin reaching 1st anal fin spine; scales relatively large, smooth; lateral line complete; skin flaps on body along lateral line and below it.

Brown; a large dark blotch on dorsal spines IV-VII; tail fin with dark bars on its base, center and rear edge; pelvics clear, with a dusky tip; anal fin with 3 dark stripes.

Reaches 10 cm.

Turtle grass beds in clear water reefs, including around reefs; mainly at islands.

Depth range: 0-75 m, usually < 7 m.

The Carolinas to the southern Caribbean; also Brazil.