Scientific Name
Ruvettus pretiosus

Common Name
Oilfish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 13 - 15; Dorsal soft rays (total): 15-18; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 15 - 18; Vertebrae: 32. Skin very rough, scales interspersed with spinous bony tubercles. Mid-ventral (abdominal) keel on the ventral contour. Body is uniformly brown to dark brown, tips of the pectoral and pelvic fins black, margins of the second dorsal and anal fins white in young specimens.

Classification

Classified By

Cocco, 1833

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Perch-like fish (Perciformes)

Family

Snake mackerels (Gempylidae)

Distribution

Region

Widely distributed in tropical and temperate seas of the world.

Distribution

Widely distributed in tropical and temperate seas of the world.

Range

55°N - 43°S, 180°W - 180°E

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

100 m

Depth To - meters

800 m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 100 - 800 m (Ref. 9302), usually 200 - 400 m (Ref. 6181)

Trophic Level

4.18 s.e. 0.57 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

300 cm

Common Length

150 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes

Vulnerability

Very high vulnerability (85 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tm>4)

Threat To Humans

Poisonous to eat (Ref. 4690)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated