White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

Scientific name: Acipenser transmontanus Richardson, 1836

White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

The White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) is a freshwater fish of the family Acipenseridae. In the aquarium it needs water at 23°C (73°F).

White sturgeon care at a glance

Temperature
23°C (73°F)

Biology

Spends most of its time in the sea, usually close to shore. Enters estuaries of large rivers and moves far inland to spawn. Individuals larger than 48.3 cm feed mainly on fishes; smaller ones feed mainly on chironomids, but also takes small crustaceans, other insects and mollusks. Feeding ceases just before spawning. Excellent food fish that is sold fresh, smoked or frozen. Eggs marketed as caviar. In the past, the airbladder was made into isinglass.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Acipenser transmontanus
Family
Acipenseridae (Sturgeons)
Order
Acipenseriformes (Sturgeons and Paddlefishes)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
610
Common length
21.0
Depth range
1–122 m (3–400 ft)
Environment
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; anadromous; depth range 1 - 122 m
Climate
Temperate
Distribution
Eastern Pacific: Alaska Bay to Monterey, California, USA. Landlocked in Columbia River drainage, Montana, and perhaps Lake Shasta in California, USA. Translocated to lower Colorado River, Arizona in USA. Reported from northern Baja California, Mexico. Considered vulnerable in Canada. International trade restricted (CITES II, since 1.4.98).
Conservation status (IUCN)
Least Concern (LC)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (tm=11-34; tmax=104)

Sources

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

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