Species: Luvarus imperialis, Louvar

Luvarus imperialis Rafinesque, 1810

Louvar

Body elongate, oval, compressed, tapering to slender tail base; head deep, compressed, forehead profile convex; eyes low, behind small horizontal mouth; 1 continuous dorsal fin, long, low, origin at ~ mid-body; anal fin similar to and under dorsal fin; dorsal and anal fins of adults without spines (dorsal with II spines in juvenile); pelvic fins tiny; pectoral fin long, pointed; tail fin large, semicircular, with 1 large and 2 small keels on tail base; skin rough, covered with tiny spines; juvenile with dorsal and anal fins higher and with longer bases, pelvic fins very long in very small fish.

Metallic blue to pinkish grey above, sides and belly silvery with pink reflections, indistinct dark spots on upper 2/3 body; anal and tail red, pectorals red to yellowish; dorsal red at front, black at rear; juveniles with dense large dark spots on body and dorsal and anal fins.

Size: 200 cm.

Habitat: Oceanic; surface to midwater.

Depth: 0-500 m.

Circumglobal, tropical to temperate; Nova Scotia to S Brazil.