Bighead sculpin
Species of fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The bighead sculpin (Batrachocottus baicalensis) is a species of sculpin fish that is endemic to the Lake Baikal watershed in Siberia, Russia.[1] It typically lives on rocky bottoms, often in places with sponges, at depths of 5 to 70 m (16–230 ft), but can occur as deep as 120 m (390 ft).[2] Its colour varies from grayish to brownish or greenish depending on the bottom type.[2] It can reach up to 22 cm (8.7 in) in length, but most are 13–16 cm (5.1–6.3 in).[2] It feeds on a wide range of smaller animals such as young fish, insect larvae, amphipods, molluscs and oligochaetes.[2] Breeding is in the spring where the female lays 618 to 1622 eggs, which are guarded by the male.[2]
| Bighead sculpin | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Suborder: | Cottoidei |
| Family: | Cottidae |
| Genus: | Batrachocottus |
| Species: | B. baicalensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Batrachocottus baicalensis Dybowski, 1874 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Cottus baicalensis Dybowski, 1874 | |
The bighead sculpin is variously considered to belong either to the family Cottocomephoridae,[1] Cottidae[3] or Abyssocottidae.[4]