Scientific Name
Scorpaenopsis barbata
Common Name
Bearded scorpionfish
Biology
Dorsal
spines
(total): 12;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 9;
Anal
spines: 3;
Anal
soft rays: 5;
Vertebrae: 24. Body heavily pigmented with dark brown or reddish brown, mottled with whitish and blackish blotches; often with a dark brown bar extending ventrally from posterior half of eye and broadening onto lower cheek. Upper opercular spine broad with a strong median ridge. Space between opercular spines with 1 or more ridges. Paired interorbital ridges prominent, separated by a channel more than twice width of 1 ridge, and ending at a ridge extending medially from postocular spine along incurved edge of moderately deep occipital pit. An oblique ridge lateral to each interorbital ridge from above middle of orbit, converging posteriorly with interorbital ridge. Tympanic spines about as long as postocular spines, close behind but separated from ridge extending medially from postocular spines. Median interorbital ridge prominent, reaching well into anterior interorbital s