Southernmost record and record-size of the Highfin scorpionfish, Pontinus rathbuni(Actinopterygii: Scorpaenidae), in the Gulf of Mexico

Background. Pontinus rathbuni has a distribution from Virginia to Brazil, USA, including the north of The Gulf of Mexico, nevertheless, there was not evidence of its presence in the southern part of these sea. Goals. The objective of this work is to report a new record in the southwestern of The Gulf of Mexico, including the larger known record of its size. Methods. Five specimens were captured by deep longline (between 160 to 300 m of depth), in the south coast of Veracruz, and they were preserved in a scientific collection. Results. The specimen of P. rathbuni were adults between 178 to 235 mm of standard length and around of 145 - 450 g of weight. They were recognized by have 17 rays on pectoral fin, the third dorsal spine is not elongated and there is not their development of the ventral process of the hypohyal. Conclusions. This record has expanded its distribution in 1,065 km toward the south of The Gulf of Mexico and this is the first record corroborated to Mexico. Also, there is a remarkable corporal size for this species.