Species: Idiastion kyphos, Sharpcheek Scorpionfish

Idiastion kyphos Eschmeyer, 1965

Sharpcheek Scorpionfish

Body behind head deep, humpbacked; head very bony, with strongly developed spines, often with multiple points; without pit behind eyes; eyes large; longitudinal ridge under rear of eye with 5-8 spines; uppermost of 4 preopercular spine separated from others and longest; teeth small, simple, on sides and front of roof of mouth; small slit behind last gill arch; small, simple teeth on jaws, front & sides of roof of mouth, in throat; dorsal fin XII, 9.5; anal fin III, 5; pectoral with longest rays in center, 17-19 rays, ray 1 & bottom 7-9 rays unbranched, lower, unbranched rays fleshy, with free tips; scales mostly rough; between eyes with or without scales; lateral line complete, with tubes on scales; small swim bladder.

Bright red head, body and fins; live fish sometimes with a large white blotch on nape; small fish with bars (1 down and back from eye, 1 up from eye to front of dorsal fin, a H shaped bar on body under middle of dorsal fin).

Reaches 18.6 cm.

Lives on soft bottoms

Depth range: 374-2360 m.

Trans-Atlantic; North Carolina to southern Brazil.