Persian sturgeon
Encyclopedia
The Persian sturgeon is an endangered species
of sturgeon
.
and Black Sea
, but primarily resides in the Caspian Sea. Populations may also occur in tributaries and rivers inbound to the Caspian Sea. Sturgeons are commercially important fishes valued
for their meat but mainly for their roe. Formerly omnipresent in the region, heavy fishing of the sturgeon for caviar
has forced it to Endangered Species status.
The Persian sturgeon feeds at the shelf zone of the sea, primarily in the eastern part of the South Caspian. Individual specimens are found in the North Caspian, western part of the Middle and South Caspian.
equipped with tactile and gustatory receptors, when feeding it simply sucks in its food. The eating habits of the sturgeon change throughout its life. As it begins life the sturgeon feeds on Mysidae
, Chironomidae
and Gammaridae
. At approximately age 2-3 years many feed on crabs or fish, and finally in adulthood the Persian sturgeon consumption is primarily fish.
The sturgeon mainly reproduces in the Volga, Kura
, Araks, and Ural
rivers. This sexual reproduction occurs in waters that are 20-25°C. Spawning occurs at different times for the different rivers. There is spawning in the Volga river from late July to early August, in the Krua river from April to mid-September and in the Ural river from June to July. Other than at times of spawning the sturgeon is a bottom dweller in the mud or sand.
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
of sturgeon
Sturgeon
Sturgeon is the common name used for some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae, including the genera Acipenser, Huso, Scaphirhynchus and Pseudoscaphirhynchus. The term includes over 20 species commonly referred to as sturgeon and several closely related species that have distinct common...
.
Description
The Persian Sturgeon has an elongated, bulky body with a bluish tint. This type of sturgeon is endemic to the CaspianCaspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
and 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...
, but primarily resides in the Caspian Sea. Populations may also occur in tributaries and rivers inbound to the Caspian Sea. Sturgeons are commercially important fishes valued
for their meat but mainly for their roe. Formerly omnipresent in the region, heavy fishing of the sturgeon for 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....
has forced it to Endangered Species status.
Distribution
Distribution in The Caspian SeaThe Persian sturgeon feeds at the shelf zone of the sea, primarily in the eastern part of the South Caspian. Individual specimens are found in the North Caspian, western part of the Middle and South Caspian.
Ecology
The Persian sturgeon is heterotrophHeterotroph
A heterotroph is an organism that cannot fix carbon and uses organic carbon for growth. This contrasts with autotrophs, such as plants and algae, which can use energy from sunlight or inorganic compounds to produce organic compounds such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins from inorganic carbon...
equipped with tactile and gustatory receptors, when feeding it simply sucks in its food. The eating habits of the sturgeon change throughout its life. As it begins life the sturgeon feeds on Mysidae
Mysidae
Mysidae is a family of crustaceans in the order Mysida or mysid shrimps. Six sub-families are recognised:* Boreomysinae Holt & W. M. Tattersall, 1905a* Siriellinae Norman, 1892* Rhopalophthalminae Hansen, 1910* Gastrosaccinae Norman, 1892...
, Chironomidae
Chironomidae
Chironomidae are a family of nematoceran flies with a global distribution. They are closely related to the Ceratopogonidae, Simuliidae, and Thaumaleidae...
and Gammaridae
Gammaridae
Gammaridae is a family of amphipods. In North America they are included among the folk taxonomic category of "scuds", and otherwise gammarids is usually used as a common name....
. At approximately age 2-3 years many feed on crabs or fish, and finally in adulthood the Persian sturgeon consumption is primarily fish.
The sturgeon mainly reproduces in the Volga, Kura
Kura River (Russia)
Kura is a river in Stavropol Krai, Russia. The river is approximately 150 km long. It flows from North Caucasus and ends in Nogai steppe. Novopavlovsk, a town of 23,235 founded in 1777, is located on the left bank of the river....
, Araks, and Ural
Ural River
The Ural or Jayıq/Zhayyq , known as Yaik before 1775, is a river flowing through Russia and Kazakhstan. It arises in the southern Ural Mountains and ends at the Caspian Sea. Its total length is 1,511 mi making it the third longest river in Europe after the Volga and the Danube...
rivers. This sexual reproduction occurs in waters that are 20-25°C. Spawning occurs at different times for the different rivers. There is spawning in the Volga river from late July to early August, in the Krua river from April to mid-September and in the Ural river from June to July. Other than at times of spawning the sturgeon is a bottom dweller in the mud or sand.