The spinycheek scorpionfish was first formally described in 1935 by the American ichthyologist Henry Weed Fowler with the type locality given as around 70 miles southeast of Cape May, New Jersey, USA.

The overall colour is reddish brown with the back and flanks marked with dark mottles and spots.

There are 3 dark spots in a group on the lateral line below the soft-rayed part of the dorsal fin.

[7] The spinycheek scorpionfish is carnivorous, feeding on benthic invertebrates and smaller fishes.

[6] There is thick, glandular tissue on the rear of each fin spine which are thought to be venom glands.