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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
Order:	Scorpaeniformes
Family:	Cottocomephoridae
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]

References

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