Big Baikal oilfish (Comephorus baikalensis)

Scientific name: Comephorus baikalensis Pallas, 1776

Big Baikal oilfish (Comephorus baikalensis)

The Big Baikal oilfish (Comephorus baikalensis) is a freshwater fish of the family Comephoridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 4–18°C (39–64°F). Native range: Europe, Lake Baikal.

Big Baikal oilfish care at a glance

Temperature
4–18°C (39–64°F)

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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Comephorus baikalensis
Family
Comephoridae (Baikal oilfishes)
Order
Scorpaeniformes (Scorpionfishes and Flatheads)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
21.0
Depth range
0–1600 m (0–5249 ft)
Environment
Freshwater; pelagic; potamodromous; depth range 0 - 1600 m
Climate
Boreal
Distribution
Europe: Lake Baikal.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=5; K=0.25)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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