Species: Scorpaena grandicornis, Plumed Scorpionfish

Scorpaena grandicornis Cuvier in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1829

Plumed Scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines; no spines before well developed pit on top of head behind eyes; eye moderate, with a very large, plumed cirrus above; 1st (top most) preopercular spine the largest, with a small accessory spine; bone over front of mouth with 2 spines pointing down; bone ridge under eye with 2-3 spines; roof of mouth with teeth on sides but not at front; no slit behind last gill arch; dorsal fin XII, 9.5; anal III,5; pectoral 18-19, with some upper rays branched in adult, not reaching past 3rd anal spine; scales relatively large, smooth; lateral line complete; numerous skin flaps on body, snout and around mouth.

Dark brown; tail fin with 3 brown bars (base, middle and end); upper part of inside of pectoral base brown, with small (<0.5 mm) white dots, each surrounded by dark pigment, white spots extending onto fin and side of body next to fin; lower head and chest white.

Reaches 15 cm.

Lives in seagrass beds and soft bottoms.

Depth range: 1-30 m.

North Carolina to Brazil