Sturgeon facts: an anadromous fish | Animal Fact Files

Sturgeon are mostly freshwater fish inhabiting lakes and large rivers, however these anadromous fish may spend part of their lives in saltwater, too! Some sturgeon species live in brackish to saltwater estuaries during most of the year but then make their way to freshwater lakes in order to spawn. There are somewhere around 30 living sturgeon species and these fish can reach gargantuan sizes! They have mostly cartilaginous skeletons, like sharks, and their bodies are protected by strong bony scutes which keep their predators to a minimum. Still, humans present quite a threat to sturgeons.
Scientific Name: Family - Acipenseridae
Range: throughout the northern hemisphere
Size: up to 13 feet (4m) though some reports claim double this at maximum length
Diet: fish, gastropods, crustaceans, etc.
Lifespan: average of 30 years but some believed to double this
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USFWS Midwest Region - www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmi... ; www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmt...
David Torcivia - www.flickr.com/photos/viatorc...
swimfinfan - www.flickr.com/photos/swimfin...
Geoff Parsons - www.flickr.com/photos/candesc...
Aaron Gustafson - www.flickr.com/photos/aarongu...
jjmusgrove - www.flickr.com/photos/jjmusgr...
lucas A hofer - www.flickr.com/photos/2929561... ; www.flickr.com/photos/2929561...
David K - www.flickr.com/photos/davidki...
jeff bateman - vimeo.com/125214249
NW Power & Conservation - vimeo.com/215907469
Research Credits:
animaldiversity.org/accounts/...
www.britannica.com/animal/stu...
www2.dnr.cornell.edu/cek7/nyfi...
www2.illinois.gov/dnr/educati...
www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/S...
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/specie...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeo...

[@steam9140]

Please make a video about the “Crab-Eating Frog,” which is the only amphibian that can go in brackish water(for some reason it isn’t really known)

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Awesome suggestion! I've added that to the list. I think they may share the title of "amphibians able to enter brackish water" with some other amphibians, but that's definitely a trait not many possess!

[@katered7826]

I love going fishing for these bad boys! (We always throw em back tho!)

[@lace.and.camo.youtube]

Great info, thanks!

[@FACELESS_VOID_00]

Next: Stargazer This ominous fish would terrify me the most if I were a fish just walking in the sand and then suddenly someone eats me so fast. Stargazer needs to be in a spotlight in one of your episode.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh this is a cool suggestion! I'll get it on the list. Thanks!

[@jayforerunner965]

Great video. could you please add Sea Robbins to the list? 🙏🏾

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Nice suggestion! Thank you!

[@jadenl629]

Thanks for this educational video!😃 I really learned a lot!🤩

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Col28]

Wow! I had no idea they got that big. I also didn't know that they lived that long. Thanks!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Glad you learned something new!

[@marvalice3455]

It's sad to see these animals in such decline. Also one of the many reasons nuclear>hydro.

[@pedrogabrielduarte4544]

Hunting ,fishing and many more

[@AnimalFactFiles]

I hear ya. It stinks that hydro causes issues with certain animal populations. All energy sources have their pros and cons and it can be really tough to weigh them all in a way that works for everyone, including the animals, involved

[@alextdaw]

Sturgeons are my favorite fishes!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

They are so cool looking!

[@DonDonEditz]

0:54 I thought that was a log 😳

[@dook3pook3]

I saw a dead one in a river and didn't believe it was a fish until our tour guide pointed it out lol it was so big I thought it was a floating log

[@lsswappedcessna]

I love their goofy little eyes and mustache.

[@AtticTapes14]

They look so interesting

[@alceratops6853]

I AM A STURGEON

[@tinyGrim1]

These are cool. Thanks much, they scare me..sad they are now endangered 😢

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Agreed. It's too bad they're facing population declines

[@neksol_official]

Bush baby next!

[@AGDinCA]

I was surprised to hear that there is such a pronounced gap between reproductive cycles. This gap makes sense amongst animals that rear their young for any significant length of time, but is surprising to find out about in an egg-laying species.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

I couldn't find any discussion on reasoning behind this but it might have something to do with energy cost in order to reproduce and them needing more time to build up resources in order to procreate (especially females who need to nourish their eggs) - but that's juts conjecture on my part

[@AGDinCA]

@@AnimalFactFiles Seems like pretty sound reasoning, especially since this reproduction gap is found in other animals (typically mammals). Hey, maybe there is something special about the production of their eggs that costs more energy than other egg-laying species. Like, maybe the chemical composition, or the size, or something. Interesting to think about!

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Ooh I like that thought process! I feel like that's what makes science so fun - you get to try to answer the questions you come up with. Maybe someone will look into this more and find out sometime!

[@MoskusMoskiferus1611]

I hope Chimaera and Armored Gurnard is on the List too, They are pretty Interesting

[@AnimalFactFiles]

I added them both! These are great suggestions! Thank you!

[@genghiskhan6809]

I want to experience reeling one in. I also want to try what they and their caviar taste like but I feel guilty because I know most of them endangered.

[@brandonharris6868]

I caught a 5 foot sturgeon and let me tell ya they fight hard but it is the best fight of your life

[@siyacer]

Cartilage is a great place

[@blackmonday738]

There declining just like every thing else, "duh" man!! And those whom live off the land.

[@Dman9fp]

Declining because of "human needs". Quite sad really, how much we pollute and destroy everything . And just how much difference can a handful of people or so of people who actually care make... But definitely there are some regions where they're still thriving at the moment/ and you can pretty much reliably see them. I have, something I'll never forget/ I'm going to see next week again hopefully... Yeah this region of my home state is great, Sturgeon are just the cherry on top. For sure highly recommend seeing them in the wild and/or sharks before they decline even more

[@ethelgillis409]

Are sturgeon fish good to eat?

[@sundayoutdoors5684]

Surgeon or related to sharks sharks have teeth sturgeon scoots instead of teeth they are related

[@traceyannbailey5287]

can a sturgeon kill someone?

[@chisaquaticvibe6524]

Some sturgeon actually do have teeth.

[@AnimalFactFiles]

Oh is that so? Which ones? Could you provide a link?

[@chisaquaticvibe6524]

@@AnimalFactFiles the kaluga sturgeon