Starry Sturgeon

Identification

The stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) has a striking long, sword-shaped snout that is broader than that of other sturgeons. The body is slender and streamlined, with five rows of pale bony plates against a dark background. The species can reach 2 metres but usually remains smaller. The name 'stellatus' refers to the star-shaped bony plates.

Ecology

The stellate sturgeon is originally anadromous, from the Caspian Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The species migrates up rivers to spawn on hard, gravelly beds. As a fast swimmer, the stellate sturgeon hunts more actively than other sturgeons, catching small fish in addition to benthic organisms.

In the Netherlands

With only 1 observation in our database, the stellate sturgeon is extremely rare in the Netherlands. This likely concerns an escaped aquaculture specimen. The species is farmed in Europe for caviar (sevruga). In its native range, the stellate sturgeon is critically endangered due to overfishing and dams blocking migration routes.