Procottus major

Procottus major
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Abyssocottidae
Genus:	Procottus
Species:	P. major
Binomial name
Procottus major Taliev, 1949
Synonyms[1]
Procottus jeittelesi major Taliev, 1949

Procottus major is one of the four recognized species of the deepwater sculpin fish genus Procottus, endemic to Lake Baikal in Russia.^[1] It was originally described as a subspecies of the similar but smaller red sculpin (P. jeittelesii). P. major can be found at depths of up to 900 m (3,000 ft),^[1] especially on a muddy or rocky-mud bottom.^[2] In the spring and summer it typically occurs deeper than 100 m (330 ft), and in the fall and winter from 30 to 200 m (98–656 ft).^[2] It can reach a length of 30 cm (12 in), but is usually 18–22 cm (7.1–8.7 in).^[2] It feeds on smaller animals, especially gammarids, and breeding occurs in the winter at depths of 60–140 m (200–460 ft).^[2] This species is fished and its young are an important food source for other fish.^[2]

References[]

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