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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The fish in Russian fisherman Roman Fedortsov’s March 2025 viral catch story was identified as Aptocyclus ventricosus. FishBase and NOAA call this North Pacific species the smooth lumpsucker—not “Pacific spiny lumpsucker,” the conflicting common name used in the story. Its underside has a pelvic-fin disc that helps it cling to surfaces, but the available reporting does not establish why this particular fish looked swollen.
What fish did Roman Fedortsov catch?
The March 4, 2025, report by The Daily Galaxy identifies the fish as Aptocyclus ventricosus. FishBase and NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center use the common name smooth lumpsucker for that species. The report’s label “Pacific spiny lumpsucker” conflicts with those species references, so the scientific name is the clearest way to identify the fish described.
This is the reported identification, not an independent taxonomic examination of the photograph. The Daily Galaxy is also the source for the image’s provenance and the details of the catch.
Why is it called a lumpsucker?
The smooth lumpsucker’s pelvic fins form a disc on its underside that functions as a sucker, helping the fish cling to surfaces. NOAA describes this feature, and FishBase likewise notes the species’ clinging disc. It offers a practical explanation for the “lumpsucker” name—and matches the phrase “a sucker on its belly” attributed to Fedortsov’s post as reproduced by The Daily Galaxy.
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Why did the fish look so swollen?
The Daily Galaxy attributes the fish’s swollen appearance to a pressure change as it was brought to the surface. That explanation is the article’s account; the consulted species references do not confirm what caused the appearance of this individual. Without independently verified catch details or an examination of the fish, the reason for its appearance remains uncertain.
Where does the smooth lumpsucker live?
Species references place Aptocyclus ventricosus in the North Pacific. FishBase describes it as marine and benthopelagic, with a reported depth range of 0–1,700 m; NOAA’s species reference also describes its range. These are species-level details, not confirmation of the depth or exact location of Fedortsov’s reported catch.
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How large can a smooth lumpsucker get?
FishBase’s species record, accessed in 2026, reports a maximum published total length of 41 cm and a maximum published weight of 2.3 kg. Those are reference maxima for the species, not measurements of the fish in Fedortsov’s photographs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is known about the photograph and the post?
The Daily Galaxy says Fedortsov shared images in early February 2025 and reproduces text attributed to a February 9 post by @rfedortsov. The reproduced Russian phrases are translated there as “poor swimmer” and “a sucker on its belly.” The original post was not independently reviewed for this account, so those words are best treated as wording reproduced by the article, not as an independently verified interview.
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No consulted source provides an expert statement about this particular catch. The reliable distinction is between the reported fish identification, which aligns with FishBase and NOAA’s smooth-lumpsucker name, and the story-specific details—such as the catch location and the cause of the fish’s appearance—which rest on the article’s account.
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