Escolar, Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Smith, 1849)

ANIMAL SPECIES:Escolar, Lepidocybium flavobrunneum (Smith, 1849)

The Escolar has a fusiform body. It is found throughout tropical and temperate seas worldwide.

Alternative Name/s

Black Oilfish

Identification

The Escolar has a fusiform body, with four to six finlets behind the second dorsal and anal fins. It has a strong keel on the side of the caudal peduncle, which is flanked by a smaller keel above and below. Its upper jaw has two pairs of fangs anteriorly. The species is dark brown becoming almost black as it ages.

Size range

The species grows to over 2 m in length.

Distribution

The Escolar is found throughout tropical and temperate seas worldwide. In Australia it is recorded from southern Queensland around the south of the continent and up the west coast to the north-west Shelf of Western Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Biomaps map of Escolar specimens in the Australian Museum collection.

What does this mean?

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

Its diet includes squids, crustaceans and other fishes.

Classification

Species:: flavobrunneum
Genus:: Lepidocybium
Family:: Gempylidae
Order:: Perciformes
Class:: Actinopterygii
Subphylum:: Vertebrata
Phylum:: Chordata
Kingdom:: Animalia

What does this mean?

References

Nakamura, I & N.V. Parin. 1993. Snake Mackerels and Cutlassfishes of the World. An Annotated and Illustrated Catalogue of the Snake Mackerels, Snoeks, Escolars, Gemfishes, Sackfishes, Domine, Oilfish, Cutlassfishes, Scabbardfishes, Hairtails and Frostfishes Known to Date. FAO Species Catalogue. Vol. 15. FAO. Rome. Pp. 136.
Yearsley, G.K, P.R. Last, & R.D. Ward. 1999. Australian Seafood Handbook: Domestic Species. CSIRO Marine Research. Pp. 461. in Nature Australia. 26(8):74.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 30 September 2010

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