Amu Darya sturgeon (Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni)

Scientific name: Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni Kessler, 1877

Amu Darya sturgeon (Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni)

The Amu Darya sturgeon (Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni) is a freshwater fish of the family Acipenseridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 10–20°C (50–68°F).

Amu Darya sturgeon care at a glance

Temperature
10–20°C (50–68°F)

Biology

Its natural habitat and population have declined due to the breakage of the hydrological regime of the Amu Dariya River. Usual weight not more than 600-700 grams. Females with mature hard roe, very rare. Apparently sensitive to oxygen content in the water, changes in its chemical content, and to pollution. Fishing is prohibited. Spawns at 16? C.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni
Family
Acipenseridae (Sturgeons)
Order
Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and Paddlefishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
75.0
Environment
Freshwater; brackish; demersal; potamodromous
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Asia: Former USSR: Amu Darya River from the Pyandzh to the mouths and lower tributaries. Sometimes in the brackish water of Taldyk Bay, the delta of the Amu Darya in the Aral Sea. Considered close to extinction. International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.4.98; CMS Appendix II). Registered in the 1984 USSR Red Book; 1985 Turkmen SSR Red Data Book; 1996 IUCN Red List; an d1997 CITES Lists.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Critically Endangered (CR) (A2c)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.16; tm=6-7)

Sources

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

Last updated