Species: Ruvettus pretiosus, 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 Brazil.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
-
- Marine
- Marine Only
- Inshore/Offshore
-
- Offshore
- Offshore Only
- Water Column Position
-
- Mid Water
- Near Bottom
- Water column only
- Habitat
-
- Water column
- FishBase Habitat
-
- Bentho-Pelagic
- Pelagic
- Feeding Group
-
- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
-
- Data
- Bony fishes
- Octopus/squid/cuttlefish
- Pelagic crustacea
- Egg Type
-
- Data
- Pelagic
- Pelagic larva
- Global Endemism
-
- All species
- Circumtropical ( Indian + Pacific + Atlantic Oceans)
- Greater Caribbean non-endemic
- Regional Endemism
-
- Also in Brazil
- Continent
- Continent + Island (s)
- Extends N + S of GC
- Extends North of GC
- Extends South of GC
- GC non-endemic
- Island (s)
- All species
- Residency
-
- Resident
- Climate Zone
-
- Equatorial (0-10N, Costa Rica / Venezuela)
- Subtropical (23-35N, Florida / Carolinas / Bermuda)
- Temperate (>35N)
- Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
- IUCN Red List
-
- Least concern
- Listed
- CITES
-
- Not listed
- Length Max
-
- 305
- Depth Range Min
-
- 18
- Depth Range Max
-
- 1160