GENERAL INFORMATION       Head A.V. Balushkin       Scientists        A.P. Andriashev (Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Science) (Fishes of the Antarctic, Arctic and ocean depths-morphology, taxonomy. biogeography, phylogeny, ecology; cryobiology); A.V. Balushkin (Fishes of the Southern ocean - taxonomy, comprehensive morphology, phylogeny); N.G. Bogutskaya (Cyprinidae-morphology, taxonomy, phylogeny, molecular systematics; freshwater fishes of Russia; freshwater ecoregions); N.V. Chernova (Liparidae-morphology, taxonomy, evolution; Fishes of the northern seas); E.A. Dorofeyeva (Salmonoidea - morphology, taxonomy), V.V. Fedorov (Zoarcidae, Cottidae, Liparidae; Fishes of the North Pacific); A.M. Naseka (Cyprinidae-taxonomy, morphology, molecular systematics; freshwater fishes of Russia); ; A.V. Neyelov (Fishes of the Antarctic and Arctic-morphology, primarily of the latero-sensory system, taxonomy; rare species of the Baltic Sea); V.P. Prirodina (Notothenioidei-karyosystematics); B.A. Sheiko (Agonidae, Fishes of the Far-Eastern seas - taxonomy); V.G. Sideleva (Cottoidei; evolution of the Baikal fauna); E.P. Voronina (Salmonoidei, Notothenioidei- morphology of the digestive system; Pleuronectidae-morphology, taxonomy); O.S. Voskoboinikova (Notothenioidei-taxonomy, morphology, ontogeny, phylogeny).       Structure       The Laboratory of Ichthyology was founded as a collection of fishes purchased by Peter the Great for the Kunstkammer. It is therefore among the oldest in the Institute. It has further been enriched by scientists and travellers of this country. In 1832, "Ichthyology" became a department of the Zoological Museum and, 100 years later, reorganised as a department of the Zoological Institute. In 1942, the Ichthyology Department expanded to become the Laboratory of Ichthyology. The development of the ichthyological studies is associated with the names of well-known scientists of the country, such as P.S. Pallas, S.M. Herzenstein, L.S. Berg, N.M. Knipowich, P.Yu. Schmidt, G.U. Lindberg, A.N. Svetovidov, G.Kh.Shaposhnikova, Z.V.Krasyukova, and V.V. Barsukov.       The Laboratory's studies are conducted by scientists in three departments: (1) Fishes of the Arctic and Antarctic Regions (Andriashev, Balushkin, Chernova, Neyelov, Prirodina, Voronina,Voskoboinikova); (2) Fishes of Far-Eastern Seas (Fedorov, Sheiko); and (3) Anadromous and Freshwater Fishes of the Northern Hemisphere (Bogutskaya, Dorofeyeva, Naseka, Sideleva).       Description       Scientists of the Laboratory carry out basic researches on systematics and zoogeography of fishes, prepare faunal monographs on fish-like animals and fishes of the Seas and freshwater basins of Russia, Arctic and Antarctic Regions, investigate problems of comparative and evolutionary morphology, relationships, origin and spreading of fishes. These scientific directions continue traditions of the St.Petersburg's ichthyological school, laid by works of Academician L.S. Berg, Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.P. Andriashev and A.N. Svetovidov, Professors P.Yu. Schmidt and G.U. Lindberg.        During two past decades, the laboratory was headed by V.V. Barsukov and A.V. Neyelov. In 1997, the Laboratory came under the direction of A.V. Balushkin. The fruitful researches of the Laboratory are supplied by the richest collection, comprising more than 56,000 lots (approximately 400,000 specimens) of 8,700 species including more than 900 type specimens of fishes. This collection is the largest in Russia and one of the largest ones in the world. Fishes of Polar and temperate latitudes of the World Ocean, as well as of internal basins of Russia and adjacent countries are most fully represented in it. There is an x-ray facility and the Laboratory includes a research library. The latter was collected by L.S. Berg, G.U. Lindberg, A.N. Svetovidov, and V.V. Barsukov, and has been enlarged by Laboratory scientists corresponding with Russian and foreign colleagues.       The staff of the Laboratory participates in international endeavour, attends European ichthyological congresses, and conducts many scientific expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic Regions, to the Seas of the Far East, and to inland waters of Russia. On the initiative of the Laboratory, conferences on salmonid fishes have been organised and attended by specialists from throughout the former Soviet Union.       Research Directions       Presently, the primary research directions of the Laboratory are detailed studies of the comparative and evolutionary morphology, taxonomy, relationships, and evolution of the Notothenioidei, Cottoidei (in particular the Agonidae and Liparidae), Zoarcidae, Salmonoidei, Cyprinidae, as well as others, i.e., the fishes of the Polar areas, the Far East, and deep-water fishes of the World ocean.       Publications       During the past decade, the Laboratory has published many works of general theoretical importance in the fields of taxonomy, evolution, and zoogeography of fishes. Some of these publications contribute to the operation of fisheries in Russia. Primary attention has been accorded to monographic descriptions of different groups of fresh water and marine fishes of Russia and other countries and to the compilation of regional reviews that serve as keys to the identification of the fauna of the Far East and the Arctic and Antarctic Regions.

© Zoological Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, 2001