Big Baikal Oilfish

Potamodromous. Migrating within streams, migratory in rivers, e.g. Saliminus, Moxostoma, Labeo. Migrations should be cyclical and predictable and cover more than 100 km.

Dorsal spines (total): 6 - 7; Dorsal soft rays (total): 30 - 34; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 30 - 36

Prefers deep waters but the females and occasionally the 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. Feeds mainly on the amphipod Macrohectopus branickii. Spawns 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).

Comephorus baikalensis, the big Baikal oilfish, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This fish is endemic to Lake Baikal in Russia.