roudi escolar
Promethichthys prometheus
A deep-sea fish of the continental slope, with fang-like teeth. There are reports of ciguatera poisoning, so the flesh needs care.
Also called: escolar-prometeu, conejo, roudi escolar
- maximum
- 100 cm
- depth
- 300–400 m
who is the roudi escolar
The Promethean escolar is a snake mackerel of the family Gempylidae, an elongated fish with a mouth full of fang-like teeth. It reaches 100 cm and lives on the continental slope and seamounts, between 80 and 800 m, usually between 300 and 400 m. At night it rises to midwater. It eats fish, squid and crustaceans. It occurs in tropical and subtropical seas of all oceans, including Brazil and the Caribbean. It is caught in subsistence fishing, and some sport anglers seek it.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the roudi escolar; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- At night it migrates to midwater.
- Eggs and larvae are pelagic, that is, they live in the water column.
identification
Elongated and moderately compressed body, gray to coppery bronze. The mouth has fang-like teeth, and the mouth and gill cavity are black. Smaller specimens have yellowish fins with black tips, and the first dorsal fin has a black spot at the front. Above 40 cm the fins become almost black and the pelvic fin disappears.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America it occurs in Brazil, the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela and the Guianas, in tropical and subtropical seas.
Habitat: Continental slope and oceanic islands, between 300 and 400 m, rising to midwater at night.
coast
rules for the roudi escolar
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It has fang-like teeth, so handle it carefully, without grabbing it by the mouth. It comes from depths of 300 to 400 m, and rapid ascent causes barotrauma.
in the kitchen
It is caught in subsistence fishing, but there are reports of ciguatera, so the flesh needs care.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00363, b = 3.06; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Promethichthys prometheus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Promethichthys prometheusNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
