Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii)

Scientific name: Acipenser naccarii Bonaparte, 1836

Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii)

The Adriatic sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii) is a freshwater fish of the family Acipenseridae.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 36-48; Anal soft rays: 24 - 31. Snout moderate, very broad and rounded at tip. Lower lip continuous, interrupted at center. Barbels nearer to tip of snout than to mouth and not touching it. Five rows of scutes, dorsal 10-14 (the middle ones deeper and usually larger than those at front), lateral 32-42 on each side, ventral 8-11 on each side, with no smaller plates between dorsal and lateral rows. Back is olivaceous brown, flanks lighter, belly white.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Acipenser naccarii
Family
Acipenseridae (Sturgeons)
Order
Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and Paddlefishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
200
Depth range
10–40 m (33–131 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous; depth range 10 - 40 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Europe: Adriatic Sea and its tributaries between Po (Italy) and Buna (Albania) drainages. Recorded from Corfu; present in lowermost part of Adriatic rivers from Soca to Drin. Records from Tyrrhenian slope of Italy, Spain and France are erroneous. In Appendix II of the Bern Convention (strictly protected fauna). International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.4.98; CMS Appendix II). Only a single surviving naturally- spawning population at confluence of Ticino and Po; occasional records from Adriatic Sea and coastal rivers; spawning populations survived in Albania, but have possibly been extirpated. Status of threat: critically endangered.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Critically Endangered (CR) (A2bcde;B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v))
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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