Species: Phenacoscorpius nebris, Shorttube Scorpionfish

Phenacoscorpius nebris Eschmeyer, 1965

Shorttube Scorpionfish

Head very bony, large, with strong spines; eye large; no pit on top of head behind eyes; 1st (top) preopercular spine the largest, 2nd spine absent; bone under eye with 2 down-pointing spines, 1st rounded, 2nd pointed; ridge under eye with 5-6 spines; roof of mouth with teeth on sides but not at front; dorsal XII, 8.5; anal III, 5; pectoral 15-17, upper rays branched in adult, center rays longest; scales rough; lateral line with tubes on scales; lateral line incomplete, with only 4-5 pored scales at front.

Head and body pinkish red, with many scattered small pale blotches; 2 dark saddles under spiny dorsal; a dark bar under soft dorsal; a dark bar at end of tail base formed by small distinct dark spots; a dark blotch on spiny dorsal fin between spines V-IX; tail, pectoral and soft dorsal fins with red bases, outer parts with rows of red spots.

Reaches 8.5 cm.

Lives on soft bottoms.

Depth range: 64-606 m.

The SE USA, and the Gulf of Mexico to southern Brazil.