Species: Phenacoscorpius nebris, Shorttube Scorpionfish

pectoral - center rays longest, 15-17, upper rays branched
scales rough
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.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
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- Inshore
- Inshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom
- Habitat
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- Sand & gravel
- Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
- Mud
- Reef (rock/coral/oyster)
- Reef and soft bottom
- Reef associated (reef + edges-water column & soft bottom)
- FishBase Habitat
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- Bathydemersal
- Reef Associated
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
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- Data
- Bony fishes
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Egg Type
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- Data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- All species
- Greater Caribbean non-endemic
- West Atlantic Endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Also in Brazil
- Continent
- Continent only
- Extends South of GC
- GC non-endemic
- All species
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
- Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- IUCN Red List
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- Least concern
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 8.5
- Depth Range Min
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- 64
- Depth Range Max
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- 606