''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family

Scorpaenidae The Scorpaenidae (also known as scorpionfish) are a family of mostly marine fish that includes many of the world's most venomous species. As their name suggests, scorpionfish have a type of "sting" in the form of sharp spines coated with venom ...

, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Taxonomy

''Pontinus'' was first described as a genus in 1860 by the Cuban zoologist

Felipe Poey y Aloy Felipe Poey (May 26, 1799 – January 28, 1891) was a Cuban zoologist. Biography Poey was born in Havana, the son of French and Spanish parents. He spent several years (1804 to 1807) of his life in Pau then studied law in Madrid. He became a ...

when he was describing the longsnout scorpionfish (''P. castor'') which he had collected at Havana, as this species was the only species Poey definitely placed within the new genus it is its type species by

monotypy In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

. The genus name from is derived from ''pontis'', meaning "bridge", an allusion to the suborbital stay, or ridge, which is found in all the species in the subfamily Scorpaeninae.

Species

There are currently 19 recognized species in this genus: * ''

Pontinus accraensis ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

, 1935 (Ghanean rockfish) * ''

Pontinus castor ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

'' Poey, 1860 (Longsnout scorpionfish) * ''

Pontinus clemensi ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

'' Fitch, 1955 (Mottled scorpionfish) * ''

Pontinus corallinus ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

'' A. Miranda-Ribeiro, 1903 * ''

Pontinus furcirhinus ''Pontinus furcirhinus'', one of a number of species known as the " red scorpionfish", is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. It is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Taxonomy ''Pontinus ...

'' Garman, 1899 * ''

Pontinus helena ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

'' Eschmeyer, 1965 * ''

Pontinus kuhlii ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

'' ( S. Bowdich, 1825) (Offshore rockfish) * ''

Pontinus leda ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

'' Eschmeyer, 1969 (Speckled deepwater scorpionfish) * ''

Pontinus longispinis ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

Goode Goode ( or , depending on family) is a surname. Notable people Notable people with the surname include: * Alex Goode (Born 1988), British rugby union player * Alexander D. Goode (1911-1943), US Army chaplain * Andy Goode (born 1980), British ru ...

& T. H. Bean, 1896 (Longspine scorpionfish) * ''

Pontinus macrocephalus ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

'' ( Sauvage, 1882) (Large-headed scorpionfish) * '' Pontinus nematophthalmus'' ( Günther, 1860) (Spinythroat scorpionfish) * '' Pontinus nigerimum'' Eschmeyer, 1983 (Blacklash scorpionfish) * '' Pontinus nigropunctatus'' (Günther, 1868) (St. Helena deepwater scorpionfish) * '' Pontinus rathbuni'' Goode & T. H. Bean, 1896 (Highfin scorpionfish) * '' Pontinus rhodochrous'' (Günther, 1872) * '' Pontinus sierra'' ( C. H. Gilbert, 1890) (Speckled scorpionfish) * ''

Pontinus strigatus ''Pontinus'' is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. The scorpionfishes in this genus are distributed in the tropical and warm temperate parts Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Taxonomy ' ...

'' Heller &

Snodgrass The family name Snodgrass is said to originate from lands in the parish of Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland, known as Snodgrasse, or Snodgers, at a bend in the River Garnock at 55°38' north, 4°42' west, which were rented out in plots. Both forms are re ...

, 1903 (Stalkeye scorpionfish) * '' Pontinus tentacularis'' ( Fowler, 1938) * '' Pontinus vaughani'' Barnhart & C. L. Hubbs, 1946 (Spotback scorpionfish)

Characteristics

''Pontinus'' scorpionfishes have very bony heads The head has 2 preorbital spines over the maxillary, 3-4 spines on the suborbital ridge although the first spine on the preorbital bone is frequently absent. There is a supplemental preopercular spine and the uppermost preopercular spine is the longest with the second preopercular spine being often absent, then the third and fourth are present but the 5th may be present or absent. They have both vomerine teeth and paltine teeth. The dorsal fin contains 12 spines and 9-10 sot rays while the anal-fin has 3 spines and 5 soft rays with the rearmost ray deeply split. There are 15-20 unbranched fin rays in the pectoral fin. They have a swimbladder The scales on the body are ctenoid and the cheek, postorbital area and top of head are all scaled. They do not have an occipital pit. These scorpionfishes vary in size from a total length of in the spinythroat scorpionfish (''P. nematophthalmus'') to in the mottled spinefish (''P. clemensi'').

Distribution and habitat

''Pontinus'' scorpionfishes are found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic Indian and Pacific Oceans. These are

demersal fish Demersal fish, also known as groundfish, live and feed on or near the bottom of seas or lakes (the demersal zone).Walrond Carl . "Coastal fish - Fish of the open sea floor"Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 2 March 2009 They occ ...

es.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2394496 Scorpaenini Venomous fish Extant Rupelian first appearances Marine fish genera Taxa named by Felipe Poey Rupelian genus first appearances