Species: Scorpaena brachyptera, Shortfin Scorpionfish

Scorpaena brachyptera Eschmeyer, 1965

Shortfin Scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines; no spine behind front nostril; adults with a shallow pit on top of head behind eyes, a pair of spines before that pit; eye moderate; 1st (topmost) preopercular spine the largest; nasal bones freely movable; no slit behind last gill arch; bone over front of mouth with 2 spines pointing down and forwards, 1st is small and arched; ridge under eye strong, with 3-4 spines; roof of mouth with teeth on sides, but not on center; no slit behind last gill arch; dorsal fin XII, 8.5 (7.5-9.5); anal III,5; pectoral 19-20, with some upper rays branched in adult, fin short, not reaching 1st anal fin spine; scales relatively large, smooth; lateral line complete.

Pale reddish; head mottled with dark and yellow; iris yellow-red; inner face of pectoral bright yellow; anal fin red, mottled, darkest at the front; other fins red; tail fin sometimes with 2 obscure bars.

Reaches 7.5 cm.

Found on rock, rubble and sponge bottoms.

Depth range: 46-155 m.

Florida to Venezuela.