Baikal oil fish

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Baikal oil fish
Large Baikal oilfish (Comephorus baikalensis), from Brehms Tierleben, Volume 8. Third edition (1892)

Large Baikal oilfish ( Comephorus baikalensis ), from Brehms Tierleben , Volume 8. Third edition (1892)

Systematics
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Order : Perch-like (Perciformes)
Subordination : Cottoidei
Partial order : Bull relatives (Cottales)
Family : Bullheads (Cottidae)
Genre : Baikal oil fish
Scientific name
Comephorus
Lacépède , 1800

The Baikal oilfish ( Comephorus ) or Golomjanka are a two species endemic genus of the bullheads (Cottidae) in Lake Baikal . In the traditional system, they were considered a separate family (Comephoridae), but according to phylogenetic findings they are even within the genus Cottus .

features

The fish have a naked, scaly, yellowish translucent body. The pectoral fins are very large, pelvic fins are missing (but pelvic bones are still present). The meat is very fatty and dead fish swim on the surface of the water. The bones are porous to save weight. The spine has 48 to 50 vertebrae . Baikal oilfish live at greater depths on plankton. The animals are ovoviviparous . They are an important food source for the Baikal seal ( Phoca sibirica ).

species

Showcase with Golomjanki in the Baikal Limnological Museum in Listvyanka
  • Large Baikal oilfish ( Comephorus baikalensis ) (Pallas, 1776)
    Up to 21 centimeters long, females stay smaller. The proportion of males in the total fish population is only three to four percent. From January to February it is at a depth of 150 to 250 meters, in March and April 100 to 120 meters. Spawns from July to October. Mainly eats the flea shrimp Macrohectopus branickii . Fins formula : dorsal VI – VII / 30–34, anal 0 / 30–36.
  • Small Baikal oilfish ( Comephorus dybowskii ) Korotneff, 1904
    Up to 16 inches long, females stay smaller. The proportion of males in the total fish population is only 12 to 21 percent. From January to February it is at a depth of 300 to 500 meters, in March and April 100 to 120 meters, it can also go deeper than 1000 meters. Spawns from February to March; there is evidence that the females die afterwards. The larvae can be found between the lake floor and a depth of 500 meters. Fin formula: dorsal VII-IX / 31–34, anal 0 / 32–36.

literature

Web links

Commons : Comephorus  - collection of images, videos and audio files