Some features of biology of butterfly sculpin Melletes papilio (Cottidae) in the pre-Kamchatka waters of the Sea of Okhotsk

Data on occurrence, spatial-bathymetric distribution, size-weight composition, size-sex structure, and food composition of butterfly sculpin Melletes papilio in the Sea of Okhotsk waters off the Kamchatka shores are given. This species is a relatively nonnumerous representative of fam. Cottidae with maximal length 42 cm and body weight to 960 g. In summer time, the species occurs practically over the whole study region at depths of 15 m to 285 m and water temperature near the bottom from ?0.9 to 10.7°C. However, the majority of individuals of this species occur within the depths range of 41–80 m in the cold intermediate water level at minimal positive (<2.0°C) and negative values of near-bottom water at sandy-silty grounds. The correlation between the harvesting depth and fish size has been analyzed. The variations of the feeding spectrum with growth of butterfly sculpin are described for the pre-Kamchatka waters of the Sea of Okhotsk.