Common name: Oilfish, Scourer, Scourfish, Tapioca fish, Castor oil fish, Escolar, Night Barracuda, Plain-tail

Japanese common name: Oilfish (薔薇鯥)

Taiwan common name: 薔薇帶鰆、油魚、黑皮牛、粗鱗仔、龍鱈、圓鱈

Chinese common name: 棘鱗蛇鯖

French common name: Rouvet 

German common name: Ölfisch

Italian common name: Ruvetto

Spanish common name: Escolar, Escolar clavo, Escolar Violáceo, Lija, Pez Aceite, Pez Aceitoso, Pez Purgante

Portuguese common name: Escolar, Peixe-chocolate, Peixe-escolar

Russian common name: Рувета драгоценная, рыба-масло

Scientific name: Ruvettus pretiosus Cocco, 1833

Feature:

Oilfish (Baramutsu) is distributed in the warm waters of the tropical regions of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. It inhabits depths of 180–550 meters. While alive, its body color is violet or purple-brown, but it quickly turns dark brown after death. It can reach a maximum length of nearly 3 meters, but typically measures 1.5–2 meters.The body is spindle-shaped, with a large head and large eyes and mouth. As its name suggests, it is covered in hard, sharp scales resembling rose (bara) thorns. It resembles Escolar (Aburasokomutsu) in appearance. In English-speaking countries, Oilfish is sometimes referred to as Escolar, leading to confusion.

(Baramutsu) and Escolar (Aburasokomutsu) are often caught as bycatch in longline fishing for bonito and tuna. These fish are popular due to their high fat content and are in demand overseas.

Most of the oil in this fish is composed of wax esters, which cannot be digested by the human body. In Japan, Oilfish (including Escolar) has been banned from sale under the Food Sanitation Law since 1970 (Escolar since 1981) by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. On the other hand, Skilfish (Aburabouzu), a relative of the silver cod, is not banned from sale because its fat components are triglycerides (substances that make up the majority of fish, meat, and edible oils), and it can be consumed without any issues.

Nigiri sushi detail: Oilfish (Baramutsu) Nigiri sushi