Species: Schedophilus ovalis, Imperial Blackfish, Oval Driftfish

Schedophilus ovalis (Cuvier, 1833)

Imperial Blackfish, Oval Driftfish

Body moderately deep (depth > 35% of SL), compressed, musculature firm; head broad, deep; blunt, thick snout; head covered with pores; large eye, with a poorly developed fatty ring around; mouth large, most of top jaw hidden under bone above it; roof of mouth toothless; jaws with 1 row of small conical teeth; gill rakers ~6+!+16; opercle thin, with 2 flat spines; preopercle with 9-15 prominent spines; one continuous, long-based, low dorsal fin, VI-VII weak spines gradually increase in size to rear, origin over/before pectoral base, 30-32 rays; anal fin origin under rear ½ of dorsal fin, III short weak spines, 20-24 rays; bases of dorsal & anal fins fleshy, translucent; pectoral fins 21-22, pointed & passing anus; pelvic fins smaller than pectorals, inserted under base of pectoral, connected to belly by membrane, can fold into groove on belly; tail forked; scales small, 90-110 on lateral line, smooth, easily shed, covering bases of dorsal and anal; lateral line arched, straightens out over anal fin.

Grey to deep green with blue reflections, fins dark. Juveniles mottled.

Size: 100 cm.

Habitat: oceanic, pelagic; young associate with jellyfish, including the Portugese man of war.

Depth: 70-700 m.

Widespread, scattered locations around globe; mainly in eastern Atlantic; strays to Bermuda and the Gulf of Mexico.