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Species: Pontinus helena, Helena Scorpionfish

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snout short (~eye)
no pit behind eyes
D spines high, but none elongated
no distinctive marks
pectoral 19-20, no rays branched
scales rough

Pontinus helena Eschmeyer, 1965

Helena Scorpionfish

Head very bony, with numerous spines, without pit behind eye; snout short (~=eye); ridge under eye with 3-4 spines; uppermost preopercular spine longest, 2nd spine reduced or absent; bone above mouth before eye with 2 down-pointing spines; teeth on roof of mouth at sides but not at center; slit present behind last gill arch; dorsal XII, 9.5-10.5 (spiny part of fin high, but no spine notably elongated); anal III+5; pectoral with longest rays in center, 19-20 rays, all unbranched; scales rough, present on cheek, behind eye and on chest; lateral line complete, with tubes on scales, 23-24 tubed scales on body + 2 on tail fin.

Reddish above, yellowish below; a few small dark specks on head and body.

Reaches 25 cm.

Rocky and shell bottoms.

Depth range: 75-440 m.

Venezuela to Suriname.


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Salinity
  • Marine
  • Marine Only
Inshore/Offshore
  • Inshore
  • Inshore Only
Water Column Position
  • Bottom
Habitat
  • Rocks
  • Sand & gravel
  • Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
  • Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
  • Reef and soft bottom
  • Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
FishBase Habitat
  • Bathydemersal
  • Reef Associated
Feeding Group
  • Carnivore
  • Data
Diet
  • Data
  • Bony fishes
  • Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
Egg Type
  • Data
  • Pelagic
  • Pelagic larva
Global Endemism
  • All species
  • Greater Caribbean non-endemic
  • West Atlantic Endemic
Regional Endemism
  • Continent
  • Continent only
  • Extends South of GC
  • GC non-endemic
  • All species
Residency
  • Resident
Climate Zone
  • Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
IUCN Red List
  • Data deficient
  • Listed
CITES
  • Not listed
Length Max
  • 25
Depth Range Min
  • 75
Depth Range Max
  • 440