{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic taxobox | fossil_range = Early Oligocene to Present<ref>{{cite journal | last = Sepkoski | first = Jack | author-link = | title = A compendium of fossil marine animal genera | journal = Bulletins of American Paleontology | volume = 364 | issue = |page=560 | year = 2002 | url = http://strata.ummp.lsa.umich.edu/jack/showgenera.php?taxon=611&rank=class | doi = | id = | access-date = 2007-12-25 }}</ref> | image = Pontinus nematophthalmus.jpg | image_caption = Spinythroat scorpionfish ''(P. nematophthalmus)'' | taxon = Pontinus | authority = Poey, 1860 | type_species = ''Pontinus castor'' | type_species_authority = Poey, 1860<ref name = CofF>{{Cof family | family = Scorpaenidae | access-date = 22 January 2022}}</ref> | synonyms = * ''Crossoscorpaena'' <small>Fowler, 1938</small> * ''Merinthe'' <small>Snyder, 1904</small> * ''Nemapontinus'' <small>Fowler, 1938</small> * ''Sebastoplus'' <small>Gill, 1863</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name = CofF/> }}
'''''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 of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.
==Taxonomy== ''Pontinus'' was first described as a genus in 1860 by the Cuban zoologist Felipe Poey y Aloy when he was describing the longsnout scorpionfish (''P. castor''), which he had collected at Havana. This species was the only species Poey definitely placed within the new genus it is its type species by monotypy.<ref name = CofF/><ref name = CofF2>{{Cof genus | genus = Pontinus | access-date = 22 January 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref name = ETYFish>{{cite web | url = https://etyfish.org/perciformes9/ | title = Order Perciformes (Part 9): Suborder Scorpaenoidei: Family Scorpaenidae | work = The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database | editor1= Christopher Scharpf | editor2 = Kenneth J. Lazara | name-list-style = amp |date = 2 October 2021 | access-date = 18 January 2022 | publisher = Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara}}</ref>
==Species== There are currently 19 recognized species in this genus:<ref name = Fishbase>{{FishBase genus | genus = Pontinus| month = August | year = 2021}}</ref>
* ''Pontinus accraensis'' <small>Norman, 1935</small> (Ghanean rockfish) * ''Pontinus castor'' <small>Poey, 1860</small> (Longsnout scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus clemensi'' <small>Fitch, 1955</small> (Mottled scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus corallinus'' <small>A. Miranda-Ribeiro, 1903</small> * ''Pontinus furcirhinus'' <small>Garman, 1899</small> * ''Pontinus helena'' <small>Eschmeyer, 1965</small> * ''Pontinus kuhlii'' <small>(S. Bowdich, 1825)</small> (Offshore rockfish) * ''Pontinus leda'' <small>Eschmeyer, 1969</small> (Speckled deepwater scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus longispinis'' <small>Goode & T. H. Bean, 1896</small> (Longspine scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus macrocephalus'' <small>(Sauvage, 1882)</small> (Large-headed scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus nematophthalmus'' <small>(Günther, 1860)</small> (Spinythroat scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus nigerimum'' <small>Eschmeyer, 1983</small> (Blacklash scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus nigropunctatus'' <small>(Günther, 1868)</small> (St. Helena deepwater scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus rathbuni'' <small>Goode & T. H. Bean, 1896</small> (Highfin scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus rhodochrous'' <small>(Günther, 1872)</small> * ''Pontinus sierra'' <small>(C. H. Gilbert, 1890)</small> (Speckled scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus strigatus'' <small>Heller & Snodgrass, 1903</small> (Stalkeye scorpionfish) * ''Pontinus tentacularis'' <small>(Fowler, 1938)</small> * ''Pontinus vaughani'' <small>Barnhart & C. L. Hubbs, 1946</small> (Spotback scorpionfish)
==Characteristics== ''Pontinus'' scorpionfishes have very bony heads.<ref name = STRI>{{cite web | url = https://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/sftep/en/thefishes/taxon/1004 | title =Genus: Pontinus, Scorpionfishes | access-date = 22 January 2022 | work = Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system | publisher = Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute}}</ref> The head has two preorbital spines over the maxillary, and 3-4 spines on the suborbital ridge, although the first spine on the preorbital bone is frequently absent. There is a supplemental preopercular spine. The uppermost preopercular spine is the longest, with the second preopercular spine being often absent; then the third and fourth are present, but the fifth may be present or absent. They have both vomerine teeth and paltine teeth. The dorsal fin contains 12 spines and 9-10 soft rays, while the anal fin has three spines and five 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.<ref name = FofA>{{cite web | author = Bray, D.J. | year = 2019 | title = ''Pontinus'' | work = Fishes of Australia | access-date = 22 January 2022 | url = https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/genus/1793 | publisher = Museums Victoria}}</ref> These scorpionfishes vary in size from a total length of {{cvt|14|cm}} in the spinythroat scorpionfish (''P. nematophthalmus'') to {{cvt|54.9|cm}} in the mottled spinefish (''P. clemensi'').<ref name = Fishbase/>
==Distribution and habitat== ''Pontinus'' scorpionfishes are found in tropical and temperate waters of the Atlantic Indian and Pacific oceans.<ref name = STRI/> These are demersal fishes.<ref name = Fishbase/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2394496}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Scorpaenini Category:Pontinus Category:Venomous fish Category:Extant Rupelian first appearances Category:Marine fish genera Category:Taxa named by Felipe Poey Category:Rupelian genus first appearances