Red sculpin

Procottus jeittelesii, the red sculpin or red Baikal sculpin,[2] is a species of deepwater sculpin that is endemic to Lake Baikal in Russia.[3] It is a freshwater fish that dwells under stones or in holes in the mud at a depth range of 0 to 800 m (0 to 2,625 ft).[3][4] It is often found at around 100 m (330 ft), and is most abundant during the autumn and winter.[3] From the late winter to the spring it breeds at depths of 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft).[5] It can reach a maximum length of 18 cm (7.1 in), but typically is 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in).[5] It has a red spotted or banded pattern on a light background.[5] The red sculpin resembles two of its close relatives, the smaller P. gurwici and the larger P. major.[6][7]

Procottus jeittelesii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Scorpaeniformes
Family:
Abyssocottidae
Genus:
Procottus
Species:
P. jeittelesii
Binomial name
Procottus jeittelesii
(Dybowski, 1874)[1]
Synonyms
  • Cottus jeittelesii Dybowski, 1874
  • Procottus jeittelesi bicolor Dybowski, 1908

The red sculpin's diet consists of zoobenthos, especially amphipods but also oligochaetes.[3][5] Despite its small size, it is caught and eaten by locals, and also eaten by the Baikal seal and other fish.[8]

References
  1. Dybowski, B. N., 1874 Die Fische des Baical-Wassersystemes. Verhandlungen der K.-K. zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien v. 24 (no. 3-4): 383-394.
  2. Common names of Procottus jeittelesii at www.fishbase.org.
  3. Procottus jeittelesii at www.fishbase.org.
  4. "Mysterious Fish of Lake Baikal". Science First Hand. 30 September 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  5. "Красная широколобка [red sculpin]" (in Russian). zooex.baikal.ru. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  6. "Карликовая широколобка [pygmy sculpin]" (in Russian). zooex.baikal.ru. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  7. "Большая красная широколобка [big red sculpin]" (in Russian). zooex.baikal.ru. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  8. "The king-fish, a fish without scales and other inhabitants of the waters of Baikal". Key to Baikal. 19 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.


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