A specimen of Ruvettus pretiosus was taken by gillnet from the R. V. "Matha Hari" approximately 30 miles east of Malé on March 16, 1988, and this record was made from it.
Details
§ 01
size
Max. 3 m
color
Body uniformly violet or purplish or brown when alive. Dull brown after death.
This type of fish is found mainly in the depths of 100 to 700 m on the continental shelf and oceanic slope. It has a varied diet, consuming a range of fishes, crustaceans, and cephalopods.
distinctive characters
The first dorsal fin has 13-15 spines, the second dorsal fin has 15-18 rays and two finlets, the anal fin has 15-18 rays and two finlets, and the pectoral fin has 13-15 rays. The belly is keeled with dermal processes between the pelvic fins and anus, the eye is fairly large and round, the lateral line is single and often obscure, the scales are cycloid (smooth), there are no keels on the caudal peduncle, and the caudal fin is broad and forked.