Species: Scorpaena isthmensis, Smoothcheek Scorpionfish

Scorpaena isthmensis Meek & Hildebrand, 1928

Smoothcheek Scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines; adults with a well developed pit on top of head behind eyes; eye moderate, with a large branched cirrus above it at the rear; 1st (top most) preopercular spine the largest, short, with a small accessory spine; bone over front of mouth with 2 spines pointing down; bone ridge under eye prominent, without 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, 3rd spine longer than 2nd; pectoral 18-19, with some upper rays branched in adult; scales relatively large, smooth; lateral line complete.

Red to brown to tan with greenish mottling; head brown, often dark markings at edge of operculum; iris yellow; a prominent dark green blotch on the fin membranes between dorsal fin spines III-VII; outer ½ of pelvic dusky, inner half pink; tail fin with 3 dusky bars – base (poorly defined), center and before the end.

Reaches 26 cm.

Mud bottoms and rocky bottoms with sand and rubble.

Depth range: 8-110 m.

N Carolina to Brazil.