Oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus)

Scientific name: Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, 1833

Oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus)

The Oilfish (Ruvettus pretiosus) is a marine fish of the family Gempylidae. Native range: Widely distributed in tropical and temperate seas of the world.

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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Ruvettus pretiosus
Family
Gempylidae (Snake mackerels)
Order
Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
300
Common length
150
Depth range
100–800 m (328–2625 ft)
Environment
Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 100 - 800 m, usually 200 - 400 m
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Widely distributed in tropical and temperate seas of the world.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Poisonous to eat
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming tm>4)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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