Ruvettus pretiosus

Osteichthyes Gempylidae Ruvettus pretiosus
Oilfish OIL
51.8 cm TL
Characteristic features:
Colour:

Dark brown.

Size:

Up to 200 cm TL.

Distribution:

Circumglobal, in tropical and temperate waters.

Habitat:

Mesopelagic and benthopelagic, from 200–700 m depth.

Biology:

Feeds primarily on fish, squids and crustaceans.

Indonesian fisheries:

Rarely caught by trawls, but also by longline.

Similar species:

Lepidocybium flavobrunneum
Escolar

Lepidocybium flavobrunneum

Lepidocybium flavobrunneum differs in having a lateral line strongly undulating along entire length (vs. curved anteriorly above pectoral fin, then straight); scales comparatively smooth (vs. very rough); prominent caudal keel with 2 keels either side on caudal peduncle (vs. no keel) and no midventral keel (vs. midventral keel present).

to Lepidocybium flavobrunneum
External links:

FishBase
The IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM