Summary ²

Family: Acipenseridae

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) live along the bottom, using their sensory barbels to search for food in the mud and sand. When a mussel, aquatic insect, or fish is sensed, the lake sturgeon sucks the food into its mouth. Swims up rivers to spawn over rocks and gravel. Some individuals may live over 100 years. Largest fish in the Great Lakes.

How to recognize: Mouth is underneath the head. Four barbels (whiskers) in front of the mouth. Upper lobe of tail is longer than lower lobe. Five rows of bony plates (called scutes) along its sides and back. Up to 9 feet / 2.7 meters long.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) alavire, all rights reserved
2. (c) alavire, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• FishBase
• FishSource
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet
• World Register of Marine Species

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