Genus: Scorpaena, Scorpionfishes
normally pit behind eye
D: XII
sides of roof of mouth with teeth
pectoral: upper rays branched
body scales smooth
SCORPAENA
SCORPIONFISHES
Head very bony, with numerous spines; a spiny, longitudinal ridge under eye; a pit usually present on top of head behind eyes; ridge under eye with 1-4 spines; top preopercular spine the longest; roof of mouth with teeth on sides; no slit behind last gill arch; dorsal fin XII, 7-10; anal fin III, 5; pectoral fin 16-21, some upper rays branched in adult; scales relatively large, smooth on body; lateral line complete; with tubes on scales.
A tropical to warm temperate worldwide genus with about 59 species, occurs in the Atlantic and Indo-west Pacific as well as the eastern Pacific, where it is represented by 8 endemic species, 7 of which occur in our region.
