| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Scorpaenidae | Pontinus rathbuni | Goode and Bean | 1896 | Highfin Scorpionfish |
Pontinus rathbuni
Unique Characters: Dorsal-fin spines almost always 12. Palatine teeth present. First preopercular spine longest, not counting accessory spine at base of first spine. Soft dorsal fin rays 10 1/2 or fewer (usually 8 1/2 or 9 1/2). Scales on body ctenoid (rough to touch). All pectoral-fin rays unbranched Pectoral-fin rays 17 or 18, rarely 16. Hypohyals without long descending process. Third dorsal-fin spine not notably elongate; first (anterior) preorbital spine on ventral margin of lacrimal bone points back as well as down.
Similar Species:
Spinythroat Scorpionfish Pontinus nematophthalmus
Longspine Scorpionfish
Pontinus longispinis
Spinythroat Scorpionfish Pontinus nematophthalmus. Dorsal-fin spines almost always 12. Palatine teeth present. First preopercular spine longest, not counting accessory spine at base of first spine. Soft dorsal fin rays 10 1/2 or fewer (usually 8 1/2 or 9 1/2). Scales on body ctenoid (rough to touch). All pectoral-fin rays unbranched Pectoral-fin rays 16, rarely 15 or 17. Right and left hypohyals each with long ventrally-directed process at junction of anteriormost right and left branchiostegal rays (not readily visible when mouth is closed).
Longspine Scorpionfish Pontinus longispinis. Dorsal-fin spines almost always 12. Palatine teeth present. First preopercular spine longest, not counting accessory spine at base of first spine. Soft dorsal fin rays 10 1/2 or fewer (usually 8 1/2 or 9 1/2). Scales on body ctenoid (rough to touch). All pectoral-fin rays unbranched Pectoral-fin rays 17 or 18, rarely 16. Hypohyals without long descending process. Third dorsal-fin spine notably elongate in specimens larger than about 120 to 130 mm standard length; first (anterior) preorbital spine on ventral margin of lacrimal bone points forward as well as down.
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