Red sculpin

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
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Perciformes
Suborder:	Cottoidei
Family:	Cottidae
Genus:	Procottus
Species:	P. jeittelesii
Binomial name
Procottus jeittelesii (Dybowski, 1874)[2]
Synonyms
Cottus jeittelesii Dybowski, 1874 Procottus jeittelesi bicolor Dybowski, 1908

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]