Roudi escolar (Promethichthys prometheus)

Scientific name: Promethichthys prometheus Cuvier, 1832

The Roudi escolar (Promethichthys prometheus) is a marine fish of the family Gempylidae. Native range: Tropical and warm temperate waters of all oceans, but absent from eastern Pacific except at Sala y Gomez Ridge.

Biology

Found at continental slopes, around oceanic islands and submarine rises. Meso-benthopelagic. Migrate to midwater at night. Feed on fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. Eggs and larvae are pelagic.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Promethichthys prometheus
Family: Gempylidae (Snake mackerels)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 100.0
Common length: 40.0
Depth range: 80–800 m (262–2625 ft)
Environment: Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous; depth range 80 - 800 m, usually 300 - 400 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Tropical and warm temperate waters of all oceans, but absent from eastern Pacific except at Sala y Gomez Ridge.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses: Fisheries: subsistence fisheries; gamefish: yes; bait: usually
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (K=0.17-0.18; tm=4)

Sources

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

Last updated 27 September 2026