Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) fish species and information / pictures of Lake sturgeon - Acipenser fulvescens

Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) fish species information

Scientific Name
Acipenser fulvescens

Common Name
Lake sturgeon

Biology
Inhabits bottom of lakes and large rivers (Ref. 10294), usually in 5-9 m depth, over mud, sand, and gravel. Occasionally enters brackish water. A specimen caught in 1952 was reputed to have been 152 years old (Ref. 6866). Search for food, with the aid of the sensory ability of the barbels, by constantly moving close to the substrate. Omnivorous, virtually anything edible that enters the mouth is sucked up and consumed. The food is worked or pulled in the mouth, often partly ejected and sucked in again (Ref. 1998). Spawning sites are rocky and boulder filled areas along the outside bend of rivers (Ref. 41542). Smoked and in 1951, Canada, 2,000 lbs. of caviar were made from the eggs (Ref. 37032). Threatened due to over harvesting, habitat loss and pollution (Ref. 58490).

Classification

Classified By
Rafinesque, 1817
Class
Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)
Order
Sturgeons and Paddlefishes (Acipenseriformes)
Family
Sturgeons (Acipenseridae)

Distribution

Region
North America
Distribution
North America: St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and Mississippi River basins. International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.7.75; CMS Appendix II).
Range
60°N - 32°N

Environment

Climate
Temperate
Water Temperature From
Unknown °C
Water Temperature To
Unknown °C
Depth From - meters
Unknown m
Depth To - meters
Unknown m
Zone
demersal
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous (Ref. 51243)
Trophic Level
3.27999997138977 s.e. 0.49 Based on food items.
Occurs in Marine / Salt water
False
Occurs in Brackish water
True
Occurs in Fresh Water
True
Occurs on Reefs
False
Is kept in Aquariums
True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length
274 cm
Common Length
97.5 cm
Phylogenetic Diversity Index
PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: experimental; gamefish: yes; aquarium: public aquariums
Vulnerability
Very high vulnerability (89 of 100)
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tm=16-26; tmax=97; K=0.04; Fec=50,000)
Threat To Humans
  Harmless
IUCN Red List Status
  Least Concern (LC)