Oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, 1833

Scientific name: Ruvettus pretiosus
Alternative name/s:
Castor Oil Fish, Escolar, Oil-fish
Similar species:
Escolar, Lepidocybium flavobrunneum
Juvenile Oilfish, <i>Ruvettus pretiosus</i> Click to enlarge image
A juvenile Oilfish caught at night near the surface (water depth 500 fathoms) east of Kiama Canyons, New South Wales, 2012. Image: Greg Barea
© Greg Barea

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Ruvettus
    Species
    pretiosus
    Family
    Gempylidae
    Order
    Perciformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 2 m in length and to 63.5 kg.

Introduction

The Oilfish is the lagest species in the family Gempylidae.

Identification

Oilfish are brown to black in colour and have sharp bony tubercles between the scales.

Distribution

It occurs worldwide in temperate and tropical marine waters.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Pepperell, J. 2010. Fishes of the Open Ocean. A natural history & illustrated guide. University of NSW Press. Pp. 266.