European sea sturgeon
Encyclopedia
The Atlantic or the European Sturgeon (Acipenser sturio), also known as the baltic sturgeon or common sturgeon, is a species of sturgeon found on most coasts of Europe
. It is currently a critically endangered
species.
The wedge-shaped head of this sturgeon ends in a long point. There are many sensitive barbel
s on the facial area. The dorsal fins are located very far back on the body. Five longitudinal lines of large osseous plates are found on the body of the fish. The belly is yellow and the back is brownish-grey.
This sturgeon typically measures from 1 to 2 metres (3.3 to 6.6 feet) in length, though some can reach up to 3.5 metres (11.5 feet). Average weight is roughly 150 kg (330 lbs), although they can weigh up to 315 kg (694 lbs). They have a late sexual maturity (12 to 14 years for the males and 16 to 18 years for the females) and can live to 40 years of age.
They are found on the coasts of Europe, except the Black Sea
and have even been known to cross the Atlantic Ocean
to the coasts of North America. Like many other sturgeons, they spawn in the rivers off the coast.
Also like other sturgeons, they eat shells and crustaceans which they find with their barbels.
At the beginning of the 19th century, these fish were used extensively to produce caviar
, but have been a protected species in Europe since 1982.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It is currently a critically endangered
Critically endangered
Version 2010.3 of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 3744 Critically Endangered species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and subpopulations.Critically Endangered by kingdom:*1993 Animalia*2 Fungi*1745 Plantae*4 Protista-References:...
species.
The wedge-shaped head of this sturgeon ends in a long point. There are many sensitive barbel
Barbel (anatomy)
A barbel on a fish is a slender, whiskerlike tactile organ near the mouth. Fish that have barbels include the catfish, the carp, the goatfish, sturgeon, the zebrafish and some species of shark...
s on the facial area. The dorsal fins are located very far back on the body. Five longitudinal lines of large osseous plates are found on the body of the fish. The belly is yellow and the back is brownish-grey.
This sturgeon typically measures from 1 to 2 metres (3.3 to 6.6 feet) in length, though some can reach up to 3.5 metres (11.5 feet). Average weight is roughly 150 kg (330 lbs), although they can weigh up to 315 kg (694 lbs). They have a late sexual maturity (12 to 14 years for the males and 16 to 18 years for the females) and can live to 40 years of age.
They are found on the coasts of Europe, except the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
and have even been known to cross the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to the coasts of North America. Like many other sturgeons, they spawn in the rivers off the coast.
Also like other sturgeons, they eat shells and crustaceans which they find with their barbels.
At the beginning of the 19th century, these fish were used extensively to produce caviar
Caviar
Caviar, sometimes called black caviar, is a luxury delicacy, consisting of processed, salted, non-fertilized sturgeon roe. The roe can be "fresh" or pasteurized, the latter having much less culinary and economic value....
, but have been a protected species in Europe since 1982.