Species: Ruvettus pretiosus, the Oilfish
D & A 2 rear finlets
Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, 1833
Oilfish
Elongate; fusifrom, slightly compressed; head pointed; eye large, circular; mouth opens at front, large; 1 row of large teeth each jaw, canines at front; 1st dorsal fin low, long, XIII-XV spines; 2nd dorsal fin higher, with shorter base, 15-18 rays, 2 finlets behind; anal fin 0, 15-18 rays, with 2 finlets behind; pelvic fins well developed, I, 5; tail fin broadly forked; no keels on tail base; scales smooth, with rows of small spiny tubercles in between them; lateral line obscure with slight curve over pectoral, straight to tail base; mid-belly with keel of bony plates.
Uniform dark purplish brown to brown; tips of pectoral and pelvic black; juvenile with margins of 2nd dorsal and anal white.
Size: 305 cm.
Habitat: Oceanic; midwater pelagic.
Depth: 18-1160 m.
Circumglobal, temperate to tropical; Newfoundland to central Brasil.
High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
-
- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
-
- Offshore
- Offshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Near Bottom
- Water column only
- Mid Water
- Habitat
-
- Water column
- FishBase Habitat
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- Pelagic
- Bentho-Pelagic
- Feeding Group
-
- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
-
- Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
- Data
- Bony fishes
- Pelagic crustacea
- Egg Type
-
- Data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
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- Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
- All species.
- Greater Caribbean non-endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Continent + Island (s)
- All species..
- Also in Brazil
- Extends N + S of GC
- GC non-endemic
- Extends North of GC
- Continent
- Extends South of GC
- Island (s)
- Residency
-
- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Temperate (>35N)
- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
- Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
- IUCN Red List
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- Listed
- Least concern
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 305
- Depth Range Min
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- 18
- Depth Range Max
-
- 1160
