|
Comephorus baikalensis (Pallas, 1776) Big Baikal oilfish |
|
|
photo by
Sideleva, V.G. |
| Family: | Cottidae (Sculpins) | |||
| Max. size: | 21 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | pelagic; freshwater; depth range 0 - 1600 m, potamodromous | |||
| Distribution: | Asia: Lake Baikal, Russia. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 6-7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 30-34; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 30-36. No swim bladder (Ref. 128162), | |||
| Biology: | Adults prefer deep waters but females and occasionally males may be found on the surface. Depth of distribution in January and February is 150-250 m; 100-120 m in March and April. Adults feed mainly on the amphipod Macrohectopus branickii. Mature individuals spawn in July to October. Fat content of the body is about 25%. The dead fish does not sink but float up to the surface and freeze into ice. In spring, they are cast ashore by the waves (Ref. 26334). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 June 2020 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||