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Escolar
Lepidocybium flavobrunneum
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Escolar
- Scientific
- Lepidocybium flavobrunneum
- Dhivehi
- ރޮނގު ތެޔޮމަސްRongu theyomas
- Maximum size
- Up to about 2 m (standard length); commonly 1.5 m; max. published weight 45 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 2 m (standard length)
- Depth and habitat
- Near the bottom and in the water column above it, recorded from 200 to 1100 m
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2012
Description
A large, dark brown escolar that turns almost black with age, with a prominent keel on the tail base, reaching about 2 m. It lives over deep slopes at 200 m or more and rises at night to feed on squid, crustaceans and fish. Its flesh is so rich in indigestible wax esters that eating it can cause stomach upsets.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name rongu theyomas (MRS 1997).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Lepidocybium-flavobrunneum.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ރޮނގު_ތެޔޮމަސް
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Lepidocybium_flavobrunneum_NOAA.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Rongu theyomas' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ރޮނގު ތެޔޮމަސް' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form.