Sturgeon

Sturgeon

Sturgeon

White sturgeon are characterized by their slender, elongated bodies and distinctive head and mouth shape. Unlike most fish, they lack scales and instead feature large bony scutes that act as a protective armor.

The largest recorded white sturgeon was caught in the Fraser River, British Columbia, weighing an estimated 1,100 pounds and measuring 12 feet 4 inches.


Features of a Sturgeon

  • 11-14 dorsal scutes located in front of the dorsal fin
  • 38-48 lateral scutes on each side
  • 9-12 ventral scutes on each side
  • Dorsal coloration ranges from gray to pale olive or gray-brown
  • Fins appear dusky and opaque gray
  • Underside is uniformly white
  • Possess four barbels near their toothless, large mouths, used to detect food
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