Species Facts
Science Name:
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Acipenser medirostris
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Description
The body of the green sturgeon is long, roughly cylindrical and has five rows of
bony plates on its back. The snout is narrow, long, and cone-shaped, and more or
less depressed below the level of the forehead. The mouth is toothless,
protruding, and sucker-like. Four fleshy projections, or barbels, extend from
the underside of the snout. The color is olive green above, whitish below, with
olive stripes on the sides. The green sturgeon can be distinguished by its olive
green color, the number of bony plates along the side of the body (mid lateral
plates; 23 to 30), a very pointed snout, and the barbels are closer to the mouth
than to the tip of the snout.
Where to Find
Ensenada, Baja California, to the Bering Sea and Japan.
Habitat
The green sturgeon is commonly found in brackish water (part saltwater, part
freshwater).
Feeding Habits
The green sturgeon sifts muds and silts for food and feeds upon small
invertebrates and fishes. Since it has no teeth, it must swallow its food whole.
U.S. Record
7 feet; 350 pounds
Tips for Fishing
The green sturgeon is regularly caught but, is not considered to be a good food
fish.