Procottus major

{{Short description|Species of fish}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = Big red sculpin (Procottus major).jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Bogutskaya, N. |year=2020 |title=Procottus major |page=e.T159636240A159636367 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T159636240A159636367.en |access-date=8 March 2023}}

| taxon = Procottus major

| authority = Taliev, 1949

| synonyms_ref =

| synonyms = * Procottus jeittelesi major Taliev, 1949

}}

Procottus major is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cottidae, the typical sculpins. This species is endemic to Lake Baikal in Siberia.{{FishBase|Procottus|major|month=August|year=2022}} It was originally described as a subspecies of the similar but smaller red sculpin (P. jeittelesii). P. major can be found at depths of up to {{convert|900|m|ft|abbr=on}}, especially on a muddy or rocky-mud bottom.{{cite web| title=Большая красная широколобка [big red sculpin] | url=http://zooex.baikal.ru/vertebrata/Procottus_major.htm | publisher=zooex.baikal.ru | language=Russian | accessdate=31 May 2017}} In the spring and summer it typically occurs deeper than {{convert|100|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and in the fall and winter from {{convert|30|to(-)|200|m|ft|abbr=on}}. It can reach a length of {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}}, but is usually {{convert|18-22|cm|in|abbr=on}}. It feeds on smaller animals, especially gammarids, and breeding occurs in the winter at depths of {{convert|60|-|140|m|ft|abbr=on}}. This species is fished and its young are an important food source for other fish.