Red sculpin
Species of fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Suborder: | Cottoidei |
| Family: | Cottidae |
| Genus: | Procottus |
| Species: | P. jeittelesii |
| Binomial name | |
| Procottus jeittelesii | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
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]
