Oilfish
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 Drawing by Dr Tony Ayling
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| Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, 1833 |
The oilfish, Ruvettus pretiosus, is a snake mackerel, the only species in the genus Ruvettus. It is found in tropical and temperate seas of the world, at depths of between 100 and 800 m. Its length is between 80 cm and 2 m.
The oilfish is similar to the silver gemfish but has a smaller mouth and eyes and a lower more jagged first dorsal fin. It is covered with small spiny scales and there is a row of small pores between each scale row.
Coloration is dark purple-brown on the back with a pale belly, and the pupil of the eye is brightly phosphorescent.
The flesh is very oily and although edible it is thought by some that the oil is a strong intestinal irritant.
[edit] References
- "Ruvettus pretiosus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. February 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- Tony Ayling & Geoffrey Cox, Collins Guide to the Sea Fishes of New Zealand, (William Collins Publishers Ltd, Auckland, New Zealand 1982) ISBN 0-00-216987-8
- FishBase entry
