Scientific Name
Comephorus baikalensis

Common Name
Big Baikal oilfish

Biology
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).

Classification

Classified By

Pallas, 1776

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Scorpionfishes and Flatheads (Scorpaeniformes)

Family

Baikal oilfishes (Comephoridae)

Distribution

Region

Europe

Distribution

Europe: Lake Baikal.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Boreal

Water Temperature From

4 °C

Water Temperature To

18 °C

Depth From - meters

0 m

Depth To - meters

1600 m

Zone

pelagic

Environment

Freshwater; pelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 0 - 1600 m (Ref. 26334)

Trophic Level

3.285 s.e. 0.53 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

21.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Unknown

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (36 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=5; K=0.25)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated