Variability and status of intraspecific forms of sand sculpin Leocottus kesslerii (Cottidae)

Abstract

Results of study of phenotypic variation of sand sculpin Leocottus kesslerii in Lake Baikal and water bodies of the Baikal region are presented. It was found that interpopulation variation of characters has a gradient pattern, while differences reach taxonomically significant level only between samples with maximum and minimal values of characters. Since variation of characters is characterized by primary intergradation and isolation barriers within the range are not insurmountable, it seems inexpedient to assign an independent taxonomic status to any forms either in proper Baikal or beyond its limits. Sand sculpin is a monotypic polymorphic species, whose phenotypic isolation of populations reflects the level of their spatial and ecological segregation.