Comephorus baikalensis (Pallas, 1776)
Big Baikal oilfish
Comephorus baikalensis
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
Country info:   
 


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