S. polylepsis is considered to be a junior synonym of S. guamensis and so is the type species of its genus.

typically 18, with some rays being branched in individuals with a standard length greater than 4 cm (1.6 in).

[2] Scorpaenodes guamensis has a wide Indo-Pacific distribution from the Red Sea and the coasts of eastern Africa eastwards through the Indian and Pacific Oceans as far east as Tonga and the Society Island, north to southern Japan and south to Australia.

[1] This is a shallow water species, being found down to 20 m (66 ft), although it is typically found in water with depths of less than 5 m (16 ft) where it lives on reef flats, in shallow lagoons and in channels, often giding in rock crevices.

[2] Scorpaenodes guamensis is a solitary, nocturnal, camouflaged, ambush predator which feeds on small crustaceans and polychaete worms.