Species: Scorpaenodes caribbaeus, Reef Scorpionfish

Scorpaenodes caribbaeus Meek & Hildebrand, 1928

Reef Scorpionfish

Body relatively deep, depth at dorsal fin origin 33-39% SL; head very bony, with numerous spines; no pit on top of head behind eyes; a row of 1-6 small spines below main row of 3-6 spines on bony ridge under eye; bone above front of mouth with 2 rounded lobes on lower edge and a small spine at rear side; teeth on center of roof of mouth but not on sides; a small slit behind last gill arch; dorsal fin XIII, 9 (last ray divided to base) rays; anal III, 4-5; last dorsal and anal rays branched; pectoral 19 (18-20) rays, longest rays in center, some branched, lowest rays unbranched; scales rough, head usually scaly; small spiny rays at top and bottom of base of tail fin; lateral line complete, 22-25 pored scales.

Color variable; entirely dark brown to red-brown, spotted and blotched with brown and white; head and body densely covered with tiny dark dots; sometimes body white with a broad dark bar from under central spines to under front ray; tail base whitish, with large dark spots in large fish; pectoral, anal, soft dorsal and tail fins with rows of dense dark spots; a poorly defined dark blotch on rear 3 spines of dorsal fin.

Reaches 12 cm.

Reefs.

Depth range: 0-70 m.

Bermuda to Brazil.