Common name: Tasmanian Rudderfish. Scientific name: Tubbia tasmanica. Family: Centrolophidae.
Tasmanian Rudderfish: They reach a maximum length of about 67cm. Found in the Southern Ocean in temperate waters, Indian Ocean, Tasmania, and off Natal, South Africa. Also about New Zealand.
Found near the surface over deep water and occur inshore from surface waters down to at least 50m.
They are part of the Medusafish family, Centrolophidae, and are often found in association with jellyfish to scavenge the remains of the jellyfish’s meals.
Suggest that you don’t try eating these.
A report from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing – Diarrhoea associated with consumption of escolar (rudderfish) says in part: “This issue of Communicable Diseases Intelligence contains three reports of recent outbreaks of oily diarrhoea associated with consumption of ocean-fish. In each outbreak, the oily diarrhoea was caused by indigestible wax esters contained within the fish. Common names of fish associated with these outbreaks included rudderfish, butterfish, oilfish, ruddercod and escolar.”
Enough said, I think.
24th February 2012 at 10:56 am
What a spunk!
24th February 2012 at 10:57 am
Thank you. The fish is not bad looking either.
24th February 2012 at 10:02 am
But can you eat them Huw?
24th February 2012 at 10:22 am
Megan,
Thanks for the comment. I would suggest that you don’t. A report from the Department of Health and Ageing – Diarrhoea associated with consumption of escolar (rudderfish) says in part: “This issue of Communicable Diseases Intelligence contains three reports of recent outbreaks of oily diarrhoea associated with consumption of ocean-fish. In each outbreak, the oily diarrhoea was caused by indigestible wax esters contained within the fish. Common names of fish associated with these outbreaks included rudderfish, butterfish, oilfish, ruddercod and escolar.”
Enough said, I think.
Huw