| Family: |
Acipenseridae (Sturgeons), subfamily: Acipenserinae |
| Max. size: |
143 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 23 kg; max. reported age: 67 years |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 6 - 53 m, anadromous |
| Distribution: |
North America: St. John River in Canada to St. Johns River in Florida, USA. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 33-42; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 18-24. Snout short, bluntly V-shaped, not upturned at tip. Barbels short (Ref. 7251). Absence of fontanelle and post dorsal shields. Single row of pre anal shields, 6-11 (Ref. 4639). Dorsal shields 7-13, lateral shields 22-34 (Ref. 4639). Blackish viscera (Ref. 37032). Head and back dark, lower surface white (Ref. 37032). Anal fin origin beneath dorsal fin origin (Ref. 86798). |
| Biology: |
Inhabit river mouths, lakes, estuaries, and bays; occasionally enters the open sea. Feeds mostly at night over soft substrates; juveniles feed primarily on benthic crustaceans and insects, adults prey on benthic crustaceans, insects and mollusks (Ref. 93252). Maximum known age is 67 years for females and 30 years for males. Flesh of good quality; eggs are suitable for caviar (Ref. 3192). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 14 September 2016 (A2bce) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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