Castor oil fish

The flesh is very oily and although edible, the oil actually consists of wax esters, which are not digested like traditional oil.

The Castor oil fish lives in the benthopelagic, oceanodromous, marine, depth range 100 - 800 m , usually 200 - 400 m environment.

castor oil fish (Ruvettus pretiosus) is prohibited in Japan, because their muscles are rich in wax which may cause a food poisoning. More

Escolar, also known as castor oil fish, has purgative properties and may cause diarrhea and cramps. FDA has recommended it not be sold in interstate commerce or served in restaurants. More

Common names

'Uravena in Tahitian (Reo Mā`ohi)
Africana in Portuguese (Português)
Baramutsu in Japanese (日本語)
Buttermakrele in German (Deutsch)
Castor oil fish in English
Cavala-africana in Portuguese (Português)
Chocolate in Portuguese (Português)
Enchova-preta in Portuguese (Português)
Enxova in Portuguese (Português)
Enxova-preta in Portuguese (Português)
Escolar in English
Escolar in Portuguese (Português)
Escolar in sp
Escolar in Spanish (español)
Escolar clavo in Spanish (español)
Escolar cravo in Portuguese (Português)
Escolar violáceo in Spanish (español)
Escolarinho in Portuguese (Português)
I' a ni pe' a in Fijian (vosa Vakaviti)
Kostropak in Polish (polski)
lija in Spanish (español)
Ljuskotrn in Croatian (Hrvatski)
Momoto in Tongan
Murun spinusu in Italian (Italiano)
Night barracuda in English
Oil fish in English
Oilfish in English
Ölfisch in German (Deutsch)
Oliefisk in Danish (dansk)
Olievis in Afrikaans
Oljefisk in Swedish (Svenska)
Palu sehi in Niuean
Palu-talatala in Samoan (gagana fa'a Samoa)
Peixe-chocolate in Portuguese (Português)
Peixe-escolar in Portuguese (Português)
Peixe-óleo in Portuguese (Português)
Peixe-prego in Portuguese (Português)
Peixe-purgativo in Portuguese (Português)
Peixe-sabão in Portuguese (Português)
Pescada-de-Angola in Portuguese (Português)
Pez aceite in Spanish (español)
Pez aceitoso in Spanish (español)
Pez purgante in Spanish (español)
Pisci bonettu in Italian (Italiano)
Rizinusöl-fisch in German (Deutsch)
Rouvet in French (français)
Rouvetos in Greek (Ελληνικά)
Rouvetos in Greek, Modern (1453)
Ruvet in Catalan (Català)
Ruveta in Russian (русский язык)
Ruvett in Maltese (Malti)
Ruvetto in Italian (Italiano)
Ruvettu in Italian (Italiano)
Ruvettus pretiosus in Italian (Italiano)
Shlangenmakrele in German (Deutsch)
Sinimengar in Austronesian (Other)
Sinimengar in Carolinian
Sumpitan in Hiligaynon
Táyikonipék in Austronesian (Other)
Táyikonipék in Carolinian
uravena in Tahitian (Reo Mā`ohi)
uravena in Tuamotuan
Walu in Hawaiian
Zammuni in Italian (Italiano)
Ρουβέττος in Greek (Ελληνικά)
Ρουβέττος in Greek, Modern (1453)
Рувета in Russian (русский язык)
台氏棘鱗蛇鯖 in Mandarin Chinese
台氏棘鳞蛇鲭 in Mandarin Chinese
棘鱗蛇鯖 in Mandarin Chinese
棘鳞蛇鲭 in Mandarin Chinese
油魚 in Mandarin Chinese
油鱼 in Mandarin Chinese
蔷薇带鰆 in Mandarin Chinese
薔薇帶鰆 in Mandarin Chinese

Order : Perciformes
Family : Gempylidae
Genus : Ruvettus
Species : Ruvettus pretiosus
Authority : Cocco, 1833