Genus: Pontinus, Scorpionfishes
behind eye without pit
D: XII
sides of roof of mouth with teeth
pectoral: all rays unbranched
body scales rough
PONTINUS
SCORPIONFISHES
Head very bony, with numerous spines, without pit behind eyes; ridge under eye with 3-4 spines; uppermost preopercular spine longest; teeth on roof of mouth at sides but not at front; slit present behind last gill arch; dorsal fin XII, 8-12; anal fin III, 5; pectoral with longest rays in center, 15-20 rays, all unbranched; scales rough, present on cheek, behind eye and on chest; lateral line complete, with tubes on scales.
A worldwide tropical to temperate genus with 21 species; represented in the eastern Pacific by about 8 endemic species, with 6 of those in shallow water in our region.
