Centrolophus

The black ruff has a robust fusiform body shape and can grow to a length 150 cm (60 in).

The head is grey and the body colour violet-black, dark brown or purplish, with a paler belly.

[4][5][6][7][8] It is a pelagic fish, and has been caught at a wide range of depths, from close to the ocean surface to over 1000 m.[7][8] It is largely absent from the tropics.

Black ruff is a generalist feeder, preying on any available organisms of suitable size that are present.

Prey items include small fish,crustaceans such as copepods and amphipods, squid, medusae and ctenophores.

Otolith of black ruff.