Scorpaena regina

This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D 9; pectoral-fin rays 13-17 (mode 16); scale rows in longitudinal series 39-46 (41-42); pored lateral-line scales 21-24 (23); scales above lateral line 5-7 (6) and below 11-14 (12); scale rows between sixth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5-6; scale rows between last dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line 5-6; pre-dorsal scale rows 4-7 (4-5); gill rakers on upper limb 4-5, lower limb 9-12 (10) [7-9 (8) rakers on ceratohyal and 1-3 (2) on hypobranchial], total rakers 13-17 [14-15 (3 paratypes); rarely 16-17 (1) of all paratypes]; ctenoid scales on lateral surface of body; cycloid scales exposed (or embedded in thin skin) covering the anteroventral surface of body and pectoral-fin base; lateral surface of maxilla no longitudinal ridge; lateral surface and dorsal margin of lacrimal no spines (2 paratypes with lateral lacrimal spine and vertical spine on dorsal margin of lacrimal, respectively); anterior lacrimal spine simple (1 paratype with a small spinous point on posterior margin); posterior lacrimal spine simple, directed posteroventrally; no median interorbital ridge nor coronal spine; with occipital pit and supplementary preopercular spine; simple pterotic spine; posterior tip of pectoral fin do not reach vertical through first anal-fin spine base; first anal-fin spine base located slightly posterior to vertical through last dorsal-fin spine base; prepelvic-fin length 36.3-43.0 (mean 39.8) % of SL; 9th and 10th dorsal-fin spine lengths 8.9-13.3 (11.1) % of SL and 6.5-10.1 (8.4) % of SL, respectively; caudal peduncle depth 10.5-12.3 (11.3) % of SL; the space between upper and lower opercular spines is covered by thin skin with small sensory pores; underside of lower jaw smooth, no tentacles; supraocular tentacle length variable, the longest approximately equal to orbit diameter; several distinct slender tentacles (associated with pored lateral-line scales) scattered on lateral surface of body (Ref. 121601).

Dorsal spines (total): 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Analspines: 3; Analsoft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 24

Collection data of specimens of blackish form indicates a coral reef habitat, usually at depths less than 20 m, and specimens of yellowish form were collected from deeper sandy bottom areas below 30 m depth (Ref. 121601).