Procottus jeittelesii, the red sculpin or red Baikal sculpin,[3] is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is endemic to Lake Baikal in Russia.[4] 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).[4][5] It is often found at around 100 m (330 ft), and is most abundant during the autumn and winter.[4] From the late winter to the spring it breeds at depths of 5 to 30 m (16 to 98 ft).[6] It can reach a maximum length of 18 cm (7.1 in), but typically is 10–12 cm (3.9–4.7 in).[6] It has a red spotted or banded pattern on a light background.[6] The red sculpin resembles two of its close relatives, the smaller P. gurwici and the larger P. major.[7][8]

Red sculpin
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Cottidae
Genus: Procottus
Species:
P. jeittelesii
Binomial name
Procottus jeittelesii
(Dybowski, 1874)[2]
Synonyms
  • Cottus jeittelesii Dybowski, 1874
  • Procottus jeittelesi bicolor Dybowski, 1908

The red sculpin's diet consists of zoobenthos, especially amphipods but also oligochaetes.[4][6] Despite its small size, it is caught and eaten by locals, and also eaten by the Baikal seal and other fish.[9]

References

edit
  1. ^ Bogutskaya, N. (2020). "Procottus jeittelesii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T159636050A159636157. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T159636050A159636157.en. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Common names of Procottus jeittelesii at www.fishbase.org.
  4. ^ a b c d Procottus jeittelesii at www.fishbase.org.
  5. ^ "Mysterious Fish of Lake Baikal". Science First Hand. 30 September 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d "Красная широколобка [red sculpin]" (in Russian). zooex.baikal.ru. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Карликовая широколобка [pygmy sculpin]" (in Russian). zooex.baikal.ru. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Большая красная широколобка [big red sculpin]" (in Russian). zooex.baikal.ru. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  9. ^ "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.